The document discusses COVID-19 mutations and variants, explaining how changes in the virus's genetic material (RNA) lead to new variants that may behave differently from their original strains. It highlights the classification of these variants by the WHO, including 'variants of concern' (VOC) like the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) which exhibits increased transmissibility and may impact the severity of COVID-19. Various specific mutations are addressed, showcasing their potential effects on the virus's ability to infect and evade immune responses.

1. COVID-19

2. Mutation which is a change in the genetic material (DNA
- RNA) and produces something new. A mutation is
simply the presence of a change in the nucleotide
sequence of the RNA of the virus - that causes a change
in an amino acid residue in a virally expressed protein.

3. Variant is the correct term to use when classifying a known virus
that has developed a "specific group of mutations" that causes the
variant to behave differently than that of the strain it originated
from.
A certain strain of virus is considered a variant when it has enough
mutations to change a minor portion of its genetic code.

4.  Corona viruses have all their genetic material in
something called RNA (ribonucleic acid).
 When viruses infect you, they attach to your cells, get
inside them, and make copies of their RNA, which helps them
spread. If there’s a copying mistake, the RNA gets changed.
Scientists call those changes mutations.
 These changes happen randomly and by accident. It’s a
normal part of what happens to viruses as they multiply and
spread.

5. WHO label: As of 31st May 2021, WHO proposed labels
for global SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants of
interest to be used alongside the scientific nomenclature.
SARS-CoV-2 variants - if epidemiological, pathogenic or
immunological properties are considered to be of concern
are raised for investigation - are designated Variant Under
Investigation (VUI) with a year, month, and number.
After a risk assessment by experts, they may be
designated a Variant of Concern (VOC) (VOC-202012/01)

6. WHO
label
Lineage +
additional
mutations
Country first
detected
(community)
Spike mutations of
interest
Year and month
first detected
Alpha B.1.1.7 United Kingdom N501Y, D614G, P681H September
2020
B.1.1.7+E484K United Kingdom E484K, N501Y, D614G,
P681H
December 2020
Beta B.1.351 South Africa K417N, E484K, N501Y,
D614G, A701V
September
2020
Gamma P.1 Brazil K417T, E484K, N501Y,
D614G, H655Y
December 2020
Delta B.1.617.2 India L452R, T478K, D614G,
P681R
December 2020
For these variants, clear evidence is available indicating a
significant impact on transmissibility, severity that is likely to have
an impact on the epidemiological situation.

7. For these variants, evidence is available on genomic properties,
epidemiological evidence , However, the evidence is still
preliminary or is associated with major uncertainty.
country
first
detected
Spike mutations
of interest
Year and month
first detected
Evidence for impact on
transmissibility
Evidence for impact
on severity
Eta B.1.525 Nigeria E484K, D614G, Q677H
Epsilon B.1.427/B.1.429 USA L452R, D614G Unclear [12]
Theta P.3 The Philippines E484K, N501Y, D614G,
P681H
Yes (m) [1]
B.1.616 France V483A, D614G, H655Y,
G669S
Detection (c) [17]
Kappa B.1.617.1 India L452R, E484Q, D614G,
P681R
Yes (v) [18]
B.1.620 Unclear (b) S477N, E484K, D614G,
P681H
B.1.621 Colombia R346K, E484K, N501Y,
D614G, P681H
Yes (m) [1]

10. The 20J/501Y.V3 (P.1) variant was detected in December 2020
in the Amazonas state, North Brazil before it started
spreading to Japan, North America, Europe, and Australia .
The BRA variant shares the D614G and N501Y Spike
mutations with the U.K and S.A. variants. Thus, it is thought to
also have a high transmission potential.
It also shares the two RBD mutations of concern, K417N/T
and E484K, with the S.A. variants .

11.  Like the "UK variant" B.1.1.7 and "South African variant"
B.1.351, the "Indian variant" B.1.617 is another variation of
the virus that causes COVID-19.
 Indian scientists first detected B.1.617 in a few samples in
October.
 Scientist ramped up surveillance in late January in response to
a rising number of variants, and scientists noticed that B.1.617
was on the rise in Maharashtra.
 By mid-February, it accounted for 60% of cases there, says
director of the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

12.  SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, It was
termed Delta variant by WHO under a new naming system
introduced on 31 May 2021.
 It was first detected in India in late 2020. The Delta variant is a
variant of the lineage B.1.617.
 This sublineage has remained relatively uncommon compared
to the two other sublineages, B.1.617.1 (also known as Kappa
variant) and B.1.617.2 (also known as Delta variant), both of
which were first detected in December 2020.
 There were few known cases of B.1.617 (of all sublineages) until
early February 2021 when there was a significant increase.

13.  On 7 May 2021, Public Health England escalated B.1.617.2 from a
Variant Under Investigation to a variant of concern (VOC) based
on an assessment of transmissibility being at least equivalent
to B.1.1.7.
 Subsequently on 11 May 2021, the World Health
Organization (WHO) also classified this sublineage VOC, and said
that it showed evidence of higher transmissibility and reduced
neutralisation.
 The variant is thought to be partly responsible for India's second
wave of the pandemic beginning in February 2021.

14.  This variant contains two specific mutations, called
E484Q and L452R. Both these mutations alter the spike
region, allowing it to bind more easily to cells.
 E484Q. The substitution at position 484, a glutamic
acid-to-glutamine substitution, confers the variant
stronger binding potential to hACE2 (the
human ACE2 receptor), as well as better ability to evade
hosts' immune systems,.
 L452R. The substitution at position 452, a leucine-to-
arginine substitution, confers stronger affinity of the
spike protein for the ACE2 receptor and decreased
recognition capability of the immune system.

15. Experts believe B.1.617 could be more infectious than previous
variants, based on how rapidly it is spreading in other
countries.
The B.1.617 variant is said to be driving India’s deadly COVID-19
second wave
E484Q and L452R mutations together making the B.1.617
variant more dangerous
The variant has been detected in at least 17 countries

16. The same protocols that have been effective at
controlling outbreaks previously — lockdowns,
masks, and hygiene measures — will also be
effective at bringing the latest variant under
control.

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al. Detection of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in South Africa. Nature.
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symptoms/100171986?utm_campaign=news-article-share-
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