# SARS-CoV-2 genomic variant surveillance in human and non-human primate populations in Peru

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2021 · $149,998

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Peru, which has one of the highest mortality rates in the
world, has been limited and represents a significant knowledge gap that can be addressed through
increased genomic surveillance activities. Located within the Amazon Basin, Iquitos was one of the
first cities in Peru to experience the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with devasting levels of
transmission in March 2020, followed by one of the highest documented seroprevalence rates of anti-
SARS-CoV-2 antibodies worldwide, only to have a second wave of transmission from January
through March 2021. Utilizing human samples collected in and near Iquitos, the EpiCenter for
Emerging Infectious Disease Intelligence (EEIDI) will sequence SARS-CoV-2 isolates and
characterize variants from Peru and investigate their association with human disease severity and
syndromes, reinfection, travel history, health outcomes, and patient demographics. We will also
characterize isolates of SARS-CoV-2 variants from sampled animals, in particular non-human primate
populations that closely interact with humans to investigate potential for spillback into future animal
reservoirs. This work will ensure rapid and adaptive surveillance of existing and emerging variants,
while improving an understanding of which variants are most likely to be involved in future outbreaks.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10426887
- **Project number:** 3U01AI151814-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher M Barker
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $149,998
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-08-11 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10426887

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10426887, SARS-CoV-2 genomic variant surveillance in human and non-human primate populations in Peru (3U01AI151814-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10426887. Licensed CC0.

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