Common mutations of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pandemic started in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the Betacoronavirus and human Betacoronaviruses have similarities (SARS-CoV-79.5% homology), (MERS-CoV-50% homology) and differences in their genomic and phenotypic structure. Since the end of 2019, uncontrolled transmission of COVID-19 continues globally, which may lead to new mutations of the virus and potentially resulting in more virulent strains with higher mortality rates or emergence of strains resistant to treatment. When viruses constantly change through mutation, new variants of a virus are expected to occur worldwide. New variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants are circulating globally. Several new variants emerged in the fall of 2020, in the United Kingdom, a new variant known as B.1.1.7 emerged with a large number of mutations. This variant is detected in many countries around the world. In South Africa, another variant known as B.1.351 emerged independently of B.1.1.7. This variant shares some mutations with B.1.1.7. In Brazil, a variant known as P.1 emerged and contains 17 unique mutations, including three in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein. Consequences of newly mutation and variants are the ability to spread more quickly in people, to cause more severe disease and ability to avoid detection by specific diagnostic tests.