Global dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 clades and their relation to COVID-19 epidemiology

Abstract Expansion of COVID-19 worldwide increases interest in unraveling genomic variations of novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. Metadata of 60,703 SARS-CoV-2 genomes submitted to GISAID database were analyzed with respect to genomic clades and their geographic, age, and gender distributions. Clade GR was the most frequently identified followed by G and GH. Chronological analysis revealed expansion in SARS-CoV-2 clades with D614Gmutations indicating adaptation-driven evolution. Of them, clade GH showed a slight regression. GR, GH and L clades prevail in countries with higher deaths. GR clade showed higher prevalence among severe/deceased patients. Metadata analysis showed higher (p > 0.05) prevalence of severe/deceased cases among males than females and predominance of GR clade in female and children patients. Furthermore, severe disease/death was more prevalent (p < 0.05) in elderly than in adults/children. These findings uniquely provide an evidence-based evolution of SARS-CoV-2 leading to altered infectivity, virulence, and mortality.