Molecular evolution and tracing of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Italy (MolETra-S2)
Primary objectives of this project will be: - The study of the SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiology in Italy, by sequencing a large number of genomes collected in different Italian regions; - The identification of viral variants and the analysis of their impact on clinical aspects of COVID-19 (pathogenicity and treatment) and on public health (greater transmissibility, escape mutants, diagnostic tests).  Therefore, secondary objectives will be: - Design and construction of a database for the collection and management of the main demographic, clinical, virological data of the study patients; - Evaluation of the circulation of the main SARS-CoV-2 lineages/clades; - Study of the role played by different deterministic (selective pressure) or stochastic forces in the origin and in driving the evolution of the viral variants detected; -  Study of infectiveness and replication capacity of virus in patients with longest persistence of viable SARS-CoV-2; - Evaluation of reinfections cases; - Study on the neutralizing antibody response, new potential antiviral drugs and monoclonal antibodies by in vitro assays; - Study of escape mutants eventually arising in vaccinated subjects.