Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike Mutations
SARS-CoV-2 expresses on its surface the Spike protein responsible for binding with the ACE2 receptor and which carries the majority of immunodominant epitopes. Mutations mainly affect this protein and can modify characteristics of the virus, giving each variant a unique profile concerning its transm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/30 |
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| author | Théophile Cocherie Karen Zafilaza Valentin Leducq Stéphane Marot Vincent Calvez Anne-Geneviève Marcelin Eve Todesco |
| author_facet | Théophile Cocherie Karen Zafilaza Valentin Leducq Stéphane Marot Vincent Calvez Anne-Geneviève Marcelin Eve Todesco |
| author_sort | Théophile Cocherie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | SARS-CoV-2 expresses on its surface the Spike protein responsible for binding with the ACE2 receptor and which carries the majority of immunodominant epitopes. Mutations mainly affect this protein and can modify characteristics of the virus, giving each variant a unique profile concerning its transmissibility, virulence, and immune escape. The first lineage selected is the B.1 lineage characterized by the D614G substitution and from which all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have emerged. The first three variants of concern <i>Alpha</i>, <i>Beta</i>, and <i>Gamma</i> spread in early 2021: all shared the N501Y substitution. These variants were replaced by the <i>Delta</i> variant in summer 2021, carrying unique mutations like the L452R substitution and associated with higher virulence. It was in turn quickly replaced by the <i>Omicron</i> variant at the end of 2021, which has predominated since then, characterized by its large number of mutations. The successive appearance of variants of concern showed a dynamic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 through the selection and accumulation of mutations. This has not only allowed progressive improvement of the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, but has also participated in a better immune escape of the virus. This review brings together acquired knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and the impacts of the Spike mutations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:39:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-641c52dd98f94bbba0ae9f8553452242 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:39:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-641c52dd98f94bbba0ae9f85534522422023-11-30T23:35:24ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-12-011113010.3390/microorganisms11010030Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike MutationsThéophile Cocherie0Karen Zafilaza1Valentin Leducq2Stéphane Marot3Vincent Calvez4Anne-Geneviève Marcelin5Eve Todesco6Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Virologie, 75013 Paris, FranceInstitut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Virologie, 75013 Paris, FranceInstitut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Virologie, 75013 Paris, FranceInstitut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Virologie, 75013 Paris, FranceInstitut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Virologie, 75013 Paris, FranceInstitut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Virologie, 75013 Paris, FranceInstitut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Virologie, 75013 Paris, FranceSARS-CoV-2 expresses on its surface the Spike protein responsible for binding with the ACE2 receptor and which carries the majority of immunodominant epitopes. Mutations mainly affect this protein and can modify characteristics of the virus, giving each variant a unique profile concerning its transmissibility, virulence, and immune escape. The first lineage selected is the B.1 lineage characterized by the D614G substitution and from which all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have emerged. The first three variants of concern <i>Alpha</i>, <i>Beta</i>, and <i>Gamma</i> spread in early 2021: all shared the N501Y substitution. These variants were replaced by the <i>Delta</i> variant in summer 2021, carrying unique mutations like the L452R substitution and associated with higher virulence. It was in turn quickly replaced by the <i>Omicron</i> variant at the end of 2021, which has predominated since then, characterized by its large number of mutations. The successive appearance of variants of concern showed a dynamic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 through the selection and accumulation of mutations. This has not only allowed progressive improvement of the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, but has also participated in a better immune escape of the virus. This review brings together acquired knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and the impacts of the Spike mutations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/30SARS-CoV-2COVID-19Spike glycoproteinSARS-CoV-2immune evasiontransmissibility |
| spellingShingle | Théophile Cocherie Karen Zafilaza Valentin Leducq Stéphane Marot Vincent Calvez Anne-Geneviève Marcelin Eve Todesco Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike Mutations Microorganisms SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Spike glycoprotein SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion transmissibility |
| title | Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike Mutations |
| title_full | Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike Mutations |
| title_fullStr | Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike Mutations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike Mutations |
| title_short | Epidemiology and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: The Impacts of the Spike Mutations |
| title_sort | epidemiology and characteristics of sars cov 2 variants of concern the impacts of the spike mutations |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Spike glycoprotein SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion transmissibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/30 |
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