#15,847
The UK, which leads the world in genomic testing for COVID variants, unsurprisingly leads the world in finding, and identifying, new COVID variants. In the UK, significant variants are listed as either VUI (Variant Under Investigation) or VOC (Variant of Concern).
Although first detected in mid-February, yesterday the UK's PHE announced the listing of their 8th VOC/VUI, a Variant Under Investigation dubbed VUI-202102/04 (aka lineage B.1.1.318).While there are literally thousands of COVID variants which appear to pose no additional threat, those carrying specific key mutations (e.g. E484K, N501Y, Q677H, K417T, among others) - which are known to enhance transmissibility and/or antibody escape - are of particular concern to researchers.
New Variant Under Investigation designated in the UK
Sixteen cases of a new variant, VUI-202102/04 (lineage B.1.1.318), have been identified in the UK. The variant has been designated a Variant Under Investigation (VUI) by Public Health England (PHE).
Cases of this variant, understood to have originated in the UK, were first identified on 15 February through genomic horizon scanning. All individuals who tested positive and their contacts have been traced and advised to isolate.
Following assessments, the variant was designated a VUI on 24 February. It contains the E484K mutation, which is also found in 2 existing VUIs present in the UK, but does not feature the N501Y mutation, present in all variants of concern (VOCs).
The addition of this variant as a VUI means there are now a total of 4 VUIs and 4 VOCs currently being tracked in the UK.
The E484K mutation - which was originally linked to several different variants in both Brazil and South Africa - has been increasingly showing up in other variants around the globe, including In A Small Number of B.1.1.7 Variant VIruses (now a separate variant called VOC-202102/02).
E484K has been linked to reduced antibody recognition, which is feared might increase reinfection risks and potentially lower the effectiveness of current vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, or convalescent plasma (see PrePrint: SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 Escapes Neutralization by South African COVID-19 Donor Plasma).
Whether this new VUI, which does not carry the N501Y mutation linked to greater transmissibility, will rise to the level of a VOC (Variant of Concern) remains to be seen.
For now, the bulk of the UK's variant problem is centered on B.1.1.7, which continues to account for 99% of VUI/VOCs detected each week in the UK (see Variants: distribution of cases data Updated 4 March 2021)
Meanwhile, yesterday the PHE also announced that the number of South African and Brazilian variant cases without travel history continues to grow, suggesting community spread.
As of 3 March:
- a total of 59 cases of the variant VOC-202012/02, first detected in South Africa, have been found in England where no travel links could be established
- a total of 26 cases of the variant VUI-202101/01, the P2 variant first detected in Brazil, have been found in England where no travel links could be established
