COVID-19 rise in Bangladesh correlates with increasing detection of B.1.351 variant
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Senjuti Saha, Arif M Tanmoy, Yogesh Hooda, Afroza Akter Tanni, Sharmistha Goswami, Syed Muktadir Al Sium, Mohammad Saiful Islam Sajib, Roly Malaker, Shuborno Islam, Hafizur Rahman, Ataul Mustufa Anik, Nikkon Sarker, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Kinkar Ghosh, Probir Kumar Sarkar, Mohammed Rizwanul Ahsan Bipul, Syed Shafi Ahmed, Mohammod Shahidullah, Samir K Saha
Epidemiological, phenotypic and genomic characterisation of certain variants of SARS-CoV-2 have highlighted the changing transmissibility, infectivity and antigenic escape capability of this virus. Of considerable interest are the B.1.1.7 variant (20I/501Y.V1) and B.1.351 variant (20H/501Y.V2) that have now been reported from multiple countries around the world. B.1.1.7 was first detected in September 2020 in the UK through genomic surveillance, and it contains a mutation (N501Y) in the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein that has been reported to increase transmission and virulence through genomic and epidemiological studies. The variant still shows strong response to antibody treatment and is effectively neutralised by antibodies generated on vaccination by mRNA-based vaccines. The B.1.351, first identified in South Africa in October 2020, carries the N501Y mutation and two additional mutations (E484K and K471N) that confer increased antibody resistance. These findings make it imperative to continuously track circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 globally, especially in low-resource settings, to institute evidence-based policy decisions. This editorial aims to raise awareness regarding the increasing isolation of the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants and documented cases of re-infection in Bangladesh in recent months.