A novel variant of interest of SARS-CoV-2 with multiple spike mutations detected through travel surveillance in Africa

  1. Tulio de Oliveira
  2. Silvia Lutucuta
  3. John Nkengasong
  4. Joana Morais
  5. Joana Paula Paixão
  6. Zoraima Neto
  7. Pedro Afonso
  8. Julio Miranda
  9. Kumbelembe David
  10. Luzia Inglês
  11. Amilton Pereira Agostinho Paulo Raisa Rivas Carralero
  12. Helga Reis Freitas
  13. Franco Mufinda
  14. Sofonias Kifle Tessema
  15. Houriiyah Tegally
  16. Emmanuel James San
  17. Eduan Wilkinson
  18. Jennifer Giandhari
  19. Sureshnee Pillay
  20. Marta Giovanetti
  21. Yeshnee Naidoo
  22. Aris Katzourakis
  23. Mahan Ghafari
  24. Lavanya Singh
  25. Derek Tshiabuila
  26. Darren Martin
  27. Richard J Lessells
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Abstract

At the end of 2020, the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) detected a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) in South Africa (501Y.V2 or PANGO lineage B.1.351)1. 501Y.V2 is associated with increased transmissibility and resistance to neutralizing antibodies elicited by natural infection and vaccination2,3. 501Y.V2 has since spread to over 50 countries around the world and has contributed to a significant resurgence of the epidemic in southern Africa. In order to rapidly characterize the spread of this and other emerging VOCs and variants of interest (VOIs), NGS-SA partnered with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the African Society of Laboratory Medicine through the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative to strengthen SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance across the region.

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