SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in immunocompromised host leads to the generation of recombinant strain

Abstract

Objectives: Recombination related to coinfection is a huge driving force in determining the virus genetic variability, particularly in conditions of partial immune control, leading to prolonged infection. Here, we characterized a distinctive mutational pattern, highly suggestive of Delta-Omicron double infection, in a lymphoma patient.

Methods: The specimen was characterized through a combined approach, analyzing the results of deep sequencing in primary sample, viral culture, and plaque assay.

Results: Bioinformatic analysis on the sequences deriving from the primary sample supports the hypothesis of a double viral population within the host. Plaque assay on viral culture led to the isolation of a recombinant strain deriving from Delta and Omicron lineages, named XS, which virtually replaced its parent lineages within a single viral propagation.

Conclusion: It is impossible to establish whether the recombination event happened within the host or in vitro; however, it is important to monitor co-infections, especially in the exceptional intrahost environment of patients who are immunocompromised, as strong driving forces of viral evolution.

Keywords: Co-infection; Plaque assay; Recombinant XS; SARS-CoV-2 variants; Whole genome sequencing.

Figure 1

Schematic figure representing the recombinant structure with respect to the different lineages. NSP, nonstructural protein; ORF, open reading frame.