Publications by authors named "Simon Villegas"
Microbiol Spectr
June 2023
Article Synopsis
- The first 18 months of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Colombia were marked by three waves, with the Mu variant emerging and outperforming Alpha and Gamma during the third wave from March to August 2021.
- Using Bayesian phylodynamic inference and epidemiological modeling, the study revealed that Mu's success in Colombia stemmed from local transmission, genetic diversity, and its ability to evade immunity, even though it wasn't the most transmissible variant overall.
- The findings emphasize that both genetic and external factors affect variant competition outcomes, and while Mu thrived in Colombia, it struggled to spread internationally due to the earlier establishment of more immune-resistant variants like Delta in those regions.
