What is Currently Known About the SARS-CoV2 Variants of Concern

Abstract

The following four variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are currently spreading worldwide and are labeled as Variants of Concern (VOC) according to the World Health Organization (WHO): the B.1.1.7 (also called 501Y. V1 or "SARS-CoV-2 VUI-202012/01") variant detected in the United Kingdom (UK) in September 2020, the B.1.351 (also called 501Y.V2) variant discovered in August 2020 in South Africa, the P.1 (also called B.1.1.28.1) variant discovered later in December 2020 in Brazil and Japan, and the B.1.617 variant discovered in India being the most recent addition to the list [1]. The three VOC from UK, South Africa and Brazil can have two mutations in common: the N501Y and E484K spike protein mutations, with the latter being more prevalent in the B.1.351 and P.1 variants [1]. According to the WHO, as of April 20, 2021, the presence of the UK, the South African and the Brazilian variants was reported respectively in 125, 67, and 43 countries, and as of May 2021, the Indian variant was recorded in 44 countries [1]. Moreover, the VOC phylodynamics are continuously updated on animated maps on the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data website. On top of these VOC, there are several additional variants of interest that are currently being investigated at national and international levels including the P.2 variant (also called B.1.1.28.2) detected in Brazil, and the CAL.20C (also called B.1.427/B.1.429) variant discovered in California [1].

Divergent COVID-19 Disease Trajectories Predicted by a DAMP-Centered Immune Network Model

“…We note that multiple parameter sets can lead to similar manifestations of a response that fall under one of the four major archetypes presented herein, which can limit the ability to pinpoint the role of specific biological interactions. Another important limitation to the studies presented herein (but not to the model per se) is that the model was calibrated to the initially described strain of SARS-CoV2; the multiple variants of this virus that have emerged (84) differ with regard to degree of infectivity and rate of replication, properties that can be modeled readily using our framework. The model also does not account for extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 and the possibility that the virus infects sites other than the respiratory tracts.…”

Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections in the US: Implications for Prolonging the Pandemic

“…SARS-CoV-2 mutants that develop with the fitness to replicate and transmit sufficiently have the potential to be novel variants of concern (VOCs). VOCs are associated with having enhanced transmissibility or virulence, reduction in neutralization by antibodies obtained through natural infection or vaccination, the ability to evade detection, and a decrease in therapeutic or vaccination effectiveness [ 33 ]. As of 11 December 2021, five VOCs have been identified since the beginning of the pandemic using recent epidemiological data from the World Health Organization (WHO) [ 34 ].…”