Abstract
Novel SARS-CoV-2 variants are emerging at an alarming rate. The delta variant and other variants of concern (VoC) carry spike (S)-protein mutations, which have the potential to evade protective immunity, to trigger break-through infections after COVID-19 vaccination, and to propagate future waves of COVID-19 pandemic. To identify SARS CoV-2 variants in Bangladesh, patients who are RT-PCR-positive for COVID-19 infections in Dhaka were screened by a RT-PCR melting curve analysis for spike protein mutations. To assess the anti-SARS CoV-2 antibody responses, the levels of the anti-S -proteins IgA and IgG and the anti-N-protein IgG were measured by ELISA. Of a total of 36 RT-PCR positive samples (75%), 27 were identified as delta variants, with one carrying an additional Q677H mutation and two with single nucleotide substitutions at position 23029 (compared to Wuhan-Hu-1 reference NC 045512) in the genome sequence. Three (8.3%) were identified as beta variants, two (5.5%) were identified as alpha variants, three (8.3%) were identified as having a B.1.1.318 lineage, and one sample was identified as an eta variant (B.1.525) carrying an additional V687L mutation. The trend of higher viral load (lower Cp values) among delta variants than in the alpha and beta variants was of borderline statistical significance (p = 0.045). Prospective studies with larger Bangladeshi cohorts are warranted to confirm the emergence of S-protein mutations and their association with antibody response in natural infection and potential breakthrough in vaccinated subjects.
Highlights
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified inWuhan province, China, in December 2019, has become responsible for the Corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, causing over five million reported COVID-19 deaths worldwide, of which 25% are reported from the United States and India [1]
In high-income countries, political lobbies and social media have spread confusion and misinformation over vaccines and face covering [8]. These socioeconomic and behavioral factors have affected the rates of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and community-spread of SARS CoV-2 strains predicted by non-vector borne susceptible, infected, and recovered (SIR) models [9]
All cases were randomly selected for the survey of SARS CoV-2 variants and had not received any COVID-19 vaccination
Summary
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified inWuhan province, China, in December 2019, has become responsible for the Corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, causing over five million reported COVID-19 deaths worldwide, of which 25% are reported from the United States and India [1]. The expectation of “reaching herd immunity” and preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 viruses through vaccination is thwarted by asymmetries in vaccine supply between high- and low-income countries and the lack of resources for the frozen storage and cold-chain distribution of mRNA vaccines in Africa and Asia [5]. In high-income countries, political lobbies and social media have spread confusion and misinformation over vaccines and face covering [8]. These socioeconomic and behavioral factors have affected the rates of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and community-spread of SARS CoV-2 strains predicted by non-vector borne susceptible, infected, and recovered (SIR) models [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
