Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is genetically variable, allowing it to adapt to various hosts including humans. Indeed, SARS-CoV-2 has accumulated around two mutations per genome each month. The first relevant event in this context was the occurrence of the mutant D614G in the Spike gene. Moreover, several variants have emerged, including the well-characterized 20I/501Y.V1, 20H/501Y.V2, and 20J/501Y.V3 strains, in addition to those that have been detected within clusters, such as 19B/501Y or 20C/655Y in France. Mutants have also emerged in animals, including a variant transmitted to humans, namely, the Mink variant detected in Denmark. The emergence of these variants has affected the transmissibility of the virus (for example, 20I/501Y.V1, which was up to 82% more transmissible than other preexisting variants), its severity, and its ability to escape natural, adaptive, vaccine, and therapeutic immunity. In this respect, we review the literature on variants that have currently emerged, and their effect on vaccines and therapies, and, in particular, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants must be examined to allow effective preventive and curative control strategies to be developed.
Highlights
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in China and its rapid global spread is a source of concern [1]
We present SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants, which are becoming a source of concern and others that should be evaluated, in addition to others that are under surveillance
Based on the host’s natural and adaptive immunity, many vaccines and neutralizing antibodies are in development or in clinical trials
Summary
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in China and its rapid global spread is a source of concern [1]. It carries the N501Y mutation in the receptorbinding domain (RBD), and other mutations including the 69/70 deletion, which lead to a conformational change in the Spike protein and the P681H near the site of S1/S2 furin cleavage [11] This variant has been correlated with increased transmissibility and possibly a higher fatality rate, but until now has appeared to remain susceptible to vaccination. Since January 2021, other variants have emerged in France and classified among variants of interest (VOIs), such as 19B/501Y detected in Henri-Mondor hospital (Ile-de-France) as part of a cluster It is characterized by four key mutations on Spike: L18F on N-TerminalDomain (NTD); L452R on RBD, which could be involved in antibody neutralization escape and viral fitness improvement; N501Y (in common with 20I/501Y.V1); and H655Y (in common with 20J/501Y.V3), which could be involved in the Spike modulation and immune escape [14]. We aimed to focus on and highlight the potential impact of viral genetic plasticity on tissue tropism, vaccine candidates, and therapy involving monoclonal antibodies
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