Speaker
Description
White-tailed deer (WTD) are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Multiple spillover events have been reported and studies have suggested various types of transmission (human-deer, human-deer-human, human-deer-deer)(Naderi et al., 2023)(Pickering et al., 2022). Highly dynamic polymorphisms of SARS-CoV-2 have been observed during chronic or long-term infections (Lythgoe et al, 2021). This may be due to the virus residing in distinct niches (e.g., organs) within the host (Harari et al, 2022). Here, we hope to assess the dynamic within-host diversity of SARS-CoV-2 found within individual WTD, and the populations with which they reside. Sourcing open, accessible data we hope to combine genomic analysis with epidemiological data to uncover SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity within WTD. From our preliminary analyses, we assess viral polymorphisms and mutational landscapes present within and between WTD infected with SARS-CoV-2. Given that uninterrupted, sustained transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in WTD have been reported (Kuchipudi et al, 2022) and that highly divergent lineages have been detected (Pickering et al, 2022), our study is essential in illuminating behind-the-scenes genetic diversity of this continual transmission. Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in non-human animal reservoirs may select for animal-adapted mutations that may affect transmission and virulence in humans (Otto et al, 2021). Our study seeks to assess intrahost genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 and uncover similarities, differences, and trends within and between WTD populations that have the potential to become novel, established reservoirs.
