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Detection of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in South Africa

Detection of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in South Africa

9 March 2021 | Houriyah Tegally, Eduan Wilkinson, Marta Giovanetti, Arash Iranzadeh, Vagner Fonseca, Jennifer Giandhari, Deelan Doolabh, Sureshnee Pillay, Emmanuel James San, Nokukhanya Msomi, Koleka Mlisana, Anne von Gottberg, Sibongile Walaza, Mushal Allam, Arshad Ismail, Thabo Mohale, Allison J. Glass, Susan Engelbrecht, Gert Van Zyl, Wolfgang Preiser, Francesco Petruccione, Alex Sigal, Diana Hardie, Gert Marais, Nei-yuan Hsiao, Stephen Kornsman, Mary-Ann Davies, Lynn Tyers, Innocent Mudau, Denis York, Caroline Maslo, Dominique Goedhals, Shareef Abrahams, Oluwakemi Laguda-Akingba, Arghavan Alisoltani-Dehkordi, Adam Godzik, Constantinos Kurt Wibmer, Bryan Trevor Sewell, Jose Lourenco, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara, Sergei L. Kosakovsky Pond, Steven Weaver, Darren Martin, Richard J. Lessells, Jinal N. Bhiman, Carolyn Williamson, Tulio de Oliveira
This study describes the emergence and rapid spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage (designated 501YV2 or B.1.351) in South Africa. The lineage, characterized by eight mutations in the spike protein, including three substitutions (K417N, E454K, and N501Y) in the receptor-binding domain, was identified after the first wave of the epidemic in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape. It spread rapidly and became dominant in Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces within weeks. Genomic data suggest that this lineage may have a selective advantage, possibly due to increased transmissibility or immune escape. The study highlights the importance of coordinated molecular surveillance to detect and characterize new lineages and inform global responses to the pandemic.This study describes the emergence and rapid spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage (designated 501YV2 or B.1.351) in South Africa. The lineage, characterized by eight mutations in the spike protein, including three substitutions (K417N, E454K, and N501Y) in the receptor-binding domain, was identified after the first wave of the epidemic in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape. It spread rapidly and became dominant in Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces within weeks. Genomic data suggest that this lineage may have a selective advantage, possibly due to increased transmissibility or immune escape. The study highlights the importance of coordinated molecular surveillance to detect and characterize new lineages and inform global responses to the pandemic.
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