Journal
CELL
Volume 182, Issue 4, Pages 812-+Publisher
CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.06.043
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Funding
- Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)
- National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)
- Genome Research Limited
- Wellcome Trust [110058/Z/15/Z]
- NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)
- LANL LDRD projects [20200554ECR, 20200706ER]
- NIH NIAID, DHHS Interagency Agreement [AAI12007-001-00000]
- John and Mary Tu Foundation
- San Diego CFAR [AI036214]
- NIH NIAID [AI42742]
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [CoVIC INV-006133]
- Mastercard
- Wellcome
- Emergent Ventures
- Overton family
- Wellcome Trust [110058/Z/15/Z] Funding Source: Wellcome Trust
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A SARS-CoV-2 variant carrying the Spike protein amino acid change D614G has become the most prevalent form in the global pandemic. Dynamic tracking of variant frequencies revealed a recurrent pattern of G614 increase at multiple geographic levels: national, regional, and municipal. The shift occurred even in local epidemics where the original D614 form was well established prior to introduction of the G614 variant. The consistency of this pattern was highly statistically significant, suggesting that the G614 variant may have a fitness advantage. We found that the G614 variant grows to a higher titer as pseudotyped virions. In infected individuals, G614 is associated with lower RT-PCR cycle thresholds, suggestive of higher upper respiratory tract viral loads, but not with increased disease severity. These findings illuminate changes important for a mechanistic understanding of the virus and support continuing surveillance of Spike mutations to aid with development of immunological interventions.
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