Coronavirus mutations: what is known about the main strains of SARS-CoV-2

Viruses mutate all the time, so it's no surprise that the coronavirus that emerged in China in late 2019 has undergone several major mutations, and it is likely that even more significant variations will emerge. All known mutations to date were reported by the publication CNBC.

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More recently, new strains have emerged in South Africa and the UK, raising some concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19. There is also suspicion of a new strain in the US, and the White House task force on coronavirus warned earlier this year that a new, more transmissible variant of the virus that has developed in the US may emerge.

On January 10, Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases said it had detected a new variant of the coronavirus in four travelers arriving from Brazil.

Scientists are worried about any major changes in the so-called spike protein of the virus. It contains a receptor-binding domain and is used by the virus to enter the cells of the body.

Thus, mutations can not only make the virus more transmissible, but also mean that vaccines will become less effective.

British variant

On December 14, UK health officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of a new option, now officially known as VOC 202012/01 (meaning “Option of concern 2020 Month 12 Option 01”).

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This variant was first discovered in a patient in Kent, southeast England, in September. It then quickly spread to London. Early analysis showed that due to the rise in infections in both regions, it could be 70% more prevalent than the older variant circulating in the country.

News of the new variant prompted many countries to ban flights from the UK to prevent the emergence of the new strain, and prompted the country's government to abandon a planned relaxation of social restrictions for Christmas. However, the mutation triggered a huge spike in infections: since December 28, the number of new daily cases has exceeded 50.

WHO notes that "how and where SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 originated is unclear." Scientists are trying to understand whether the duration of infection affects the mechanism of mutation in patients with weaker immune systems. This is probably what gives the virus the opportunity and time to evolve in such a way that it can spread faster.

South African option

Following news from the UK on December 18, South African authorities announced the discovery of a mutation that was spreading rapidly in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It has now become the dominant coronavirus strain in the country.

South Africa named the variant 501Y.V2 because of the N501Y mutation found in the spike protein. This mutation, among other things, has also been found in a new strain from the UK.

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The South African strain does contain other mutations, and this has raised some concerns that it may prove to be more resistant to vaccines. However, most scientists expect vaccines to work despite the mutation, and vaccines regularly adapt to new strains of viruses, such as the common flu.

Danish variant

Another variant of SARS-CoV-2, which appeared in Denmark last summer, was associated with the country's large mink farming sector. Since June, Denmark has identified 214 human cases of COVID-19, with variants associated with farmed minks. Twelve of these cases were identified as having a unique variant, which was reported to WHO on 5 November.

The new strain was discovered in North Jutland, Denmark, and has been linked to infections among farmed minks that were subsequently transmitted to humans.

“The variant, which Danish authorities call the Cluster 5 variant, had a combination of mutations not previously observed,” the WHO noted. This has raised concerns that they could "result in decreased viral neutralization in humans, potentially reducing the duration of immune protection following natural infection or vaccination."

Research is ongoing to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for people with this option. Fortunately, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and WHO, it is not more common. Denmark has taken drastic measures killing 17 million farmed minks.

Early mutation in China

The WHO notes that an early variant of SARS-CoV-2 emerged early in the pandemic (in fact, before it was declared a global pandemic in March 2020), noting that a new strain with a mutation known as D614G has emerged at the end of January - beginning of February 2020.

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Within a few months, it became the dominant strain of the virus that we know today, according to the WHO. "Within a few months, the D614G mutation replaced the original SARS-CoV-2 strain identified in China and by June 2020 had become the dominant form of the virus circulating worldwide."

Studies on respiratory cells in humans and animal models have shown that, compared with the original virus strain, the new strain has increased infectivity and transmission. However, the new option was not seen as causing "more serious disease or altering the effectiveness of existing laboratory diagnostic, therapeutic or preventive public health measures."

Can't name the exact country of origin

While the variants are sometimes referred to as the “British strain” or “Danish mutation,” experts say it's important to note that the origin of these viruses is ultimately difficult to prove and countries should not be “blamed” for various mutations.

Similarly, US President Donald Trump was criticized for calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus”—the coronavirus may have originated in China, but we still don’t know its origin. At the moment, scientists largely believe that the virus was transmitted to humans from animals, possibly from bats.

Many countries in which new variants have been discovered, including the UK, Denmark and South Africa, are known for their regular monitoring and sequencing of the virus's genetic code, and are therefore at the forefront of mutation detection.

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