Study shows distinctive mutation in rapidly emerging SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 sublineage
In a new study currently available on the
medRxiv preprint server, US researchers report the detection of a specific sub-lineage of B.1.1.7 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant harboring a novel S:D178H mutation and elucidate its transmission and evolutionary patterns.
The B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 emerged in the United Kingdom during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and was quickly identified as the first major variant of concern that was more transmissible and, arguably, more virulent.
Consequently, due to its infectiousness, it accounted for approximately 90% of COVID-19 cases in Europe and 50% of cases in the US as of May 2020. This variant is characterized by the presence of N501Y mutation in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, as well as a handful of other mutations.
Another study by researchers from the University of Bologna cite assessment of 10 lakh genomic sequences to identify the novel T478K which “is worryingly rising in prevalence among Sars-Cov-2 sequences collected since the beginning of 2021”.
“It is hard to understand why corrective action was not taken at beginning of second wave,” says Chandrika Bahadur.
As India grapples with a massive second wave, Chandrika Bahadur, chair of the Regional Task Force of the Lancet Commission, speaks to The Hindu on why this happened and the way ahead ….
India is undergoing a very severe second wave of COVID-19, something that could have been anticipated. What in your view went wrong in terms of anticipation and capacity building?
India prepared reasonably well for the pandemic in its early stages. The lockdown gave the medical system time to expand infrastructure, train staff, and build capacity to absorb patients. The rationale for lockdowns across the world in March-April 2020 was to “flatten the curve”. It meant taking actions that would bring down the number of cases that needed hospitalisation and treatment enough that they would not breach the limits of the medical capacity of the country. This preparation allowed th
First cases of B.1.1.7 variant with E484K mutation in Pennsylvania
The B.1.1.7 variant was first detected in the United Kingdom last fall and has since spread globally. Now new reports are surfacing of the B.1.1.7 variant harboring the E484K mutation that is notorious for escaping neutralizing antibodies including neutralizing activity from vaccine-induced immunity.
The E484K mutation has also been found on the B.1.351 and P.1 variant, contributing to their status as variants of concern. In February 2021, Public Health England published a report of 11 B.1.1.7 genomes that also had the E484K spike mutation. Currently, there are 247 isolates of B.1.1.7 + E484K reported globally, and new research finds the first reports of it in southeastern Pennsylvania.