Bioinformatics resources for SARS-CoV-2 discovery and surveillance. Issue 2 (8th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Tao; Li, Juan; Zhou, Hong; Li, Cixiu; Holmes, Edward C; Shi, Weifeng
• Is Part Of: Briefings in bioinformatics. Volume 22:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 631
• Page End: 641
• Publication Date: 2021-01-08
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- COVID-19 -- pathogen discovery -- bioinformatics -- phylogenetic analysis -- next-generation sequencing; Genetics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Genomes -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 572.80285
• DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa386
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-5463

Abstract

Abstract: In early January 2020, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for a pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China, was identified using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and readily available bioinformatics pipelines. In addition to virus discovery, these NGS technologies and bioinformatics resources are currently being employed for ongoing genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, tracking its spread, evolution and patterns of variation on a global scale. In this review, we summarize the bioinformatics resources used for the discovery and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these bioinformatics resources and highlight areas where additional technical developments are urgently needed. Solutions to these problems will be beneficial not only to the prevention and control of the current COVID-19 pandemic but also to infectious disease outbreaks of the future.