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Pérez-Gómez, R. Development of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/17576 (accessed on 15 May 2024).
Pérez-Gómez R. Development of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/17576. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Pérez-Gómez, Raquel. "Development of SARS-CoV-2 Variants" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/17576 (accessed May 15, 2024).
Pérez-Gómez, R. (2021, December 27). Development of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/17576
Pérez-Gómez, Raquel. "Development of SARS-CoV-2 Variants." Encyclopedia. Web. 27 December, 2021.
Development of SARS-CoV-2 Variants
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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/jdb9040058

A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged towards the end of 2019 that caused a severe respiratory disease in humans called COVID-19. It led to a pandemic with a high rate of morbidity and mortality that is ongoing and threatening humankind. Most of the mutations occurring in SARS-CoV-2 are synonymous or deleterious, but a few of them produce improved viral functions. The first known mutation associated with higher transmissibility, D614G, was detected in early 2020. Since then, the virus has evolved; new mutations have occurred, and many variants have been described. Depending on the genes affected and the location of the mutations, they could provide altered infectivity, transmissibility, or immune escape. To date, mutations that cause variations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have been among the most studied because of the protein’s role in the initial virus–cell contact and because it is the most variable region in the virus genome. Some concerning mutations associated with an impact on viral fitness have been described in the Spike protein, such as D614G, N501Y, E484K, K417N/T, L452R, and P681R, among others. To understand the impact of the infectivity and antigenicity of the virus, the mutation landscape of SARS-CoV-2 has been under constant global scrutiny. The virus variants are defined according to their origin, their genetic profile (some characteristic mutations prevalent in the lineage), and the severity of the disease they produce, which determines the level of concern. If they increase fitness, new variants can outcompete others in the population. The Alpha variant was more transmissible than previous versions and quickly spread globally. The Beta and Gamma variants accumulated mutations that partially escape the immune defenses and affect the effectiveness of vaccines. Nowadays, the Delta variant, identified around March 2021, has spread and displaced the other variants, becoming the most concerning of all lineages that have emerged. The Delta variant has a particular genetic profile, bearing unique mutations, such as T478K in the spike protein and M203R in the nucleocapsid. This entry summarizes the current knowledge of the different mutations that have appeared in SARS-CoV-2, mainly on the spike protein. It analyzes their impact on the protein function and, subsequently, on the level of concern of different variants and their importance in the ongoing pandemic. 

SARS-CoV-2 genome Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) escape mutation neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) variant of concern (VOC) COVID-19 vaccines

1. Introduction

Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are zoonotic pathogens that belong to the Coronaviridae family (order Nidovirales). They are characterized by envelopes that present projections that make them resemble a crown (in Latin ‘corona’) under electron microscope virions [1][2][3][4]. There are four coronavirus genera (α, β, γ, δ) within the Coronaviridae family. Seven species of human betacoronaviruses lead to diseases. Of them, HCoV-229E, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-OC43 cause mild respiratory apparatus infection with efficient treatment [5]. The other three, MERS, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2, cause severe disease that can lead to fatal consequences [6][7]. Since the start of 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has spread around the globe, leading to a pandemic that has already caused more than four million deaths in less than two years.

1.1. SARS-CoV-2 Structure

All CoVs have non-segmented genomes consisting of a positive-sense large single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) with a 5′ cap structure and a 3′ poly-A tail. The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes 26 proteins (Table 1). Approximately two-thirds of its genome consists of one large open reading frame (ORF1ab), translated into pp1a or pp1ab polyproteins. These polypeptides are processed by a virally encoded main protease (Mpro, also 3CLpro or nsp5) and a papain-like protease (PLpro or nsp3) into 16 non-structural proteins (nsp1–16). Most of them seem to be essential for virus replication and for the adaptation of the virus to a new host [2][8][9]. nsp12 is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) that, along with many other nsps, constitutes a replicase–transcriptase complex. It remains unclear what every nsp’s function is, but some evidence has been collected from the study of other HCoVs [2][3].
Table 1. SARS-CoV-2 genome structure. Polyproteins pp1a and pp1ab synthesize non-structural proteins nsp1–nsp16, which are responsible for the replication of ssRNA. The 3′ third of the genome contains genes that synthesize structural proteins and ORFs. Many of the resulting proteins still have unknown functions. Data were collected from NCBI’s public gene database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene accessed on 14 September 2021) and [2][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Adapted from [2].

Gene

Transcript

Protein Name(s)

Position in the Genome

Length (aa)

Function

5′UTR

    

1–265

    

ORF1a

pp1ab, pp1a [10]

nsp1

266–805

180

Leader protein. Cellular mRNA degradation, inhibiting IFN signaling [2].

nsp2

806–2719

638

Unknown.

nsp3, PLpro

2720–8554

1945

Papain-like protease, adenosine diphosphate-ribose 1″-phosphatase. Blocks host innate immune response, promotes cytokine expression [2].

nsp4

8555–10054

500

Double-membrane vesicles formation [2].

nsp5, 3CLpro, Mpro

10055–10972

306

3-chymotrypsin-like Cys protease. Main protease. Mediates cleavages downstream of nsp4. Inhibits IFN signaling [2].

nsp6

10973–11842

290

Restricting autophagosome expansion. Double-membrane vesicle formation [2].

nsp7

11843–12091

83

Cofactor with nsp8 and nsp12 [2].

nsp8

12092–12685

198

Replicase. Cofactor with nsp7 and nsp12. Primase [2].

nsp9

12686–13024

113

Replicase. ssRNA-binding protein. Dimerization and RNA binding [2].

nsp10

13025–13441

139

RNA synthesis protein. Scaffold and cooperation with nsp14 ExoN and nsp16 in methyltransferase activities [2][12][13][14][15].

ORF1ab

pp1ab [10]

nsp11

13442–13480

13

Endoribonuclease and 3′-to-5′ exonuclease [2].

nsp12, RdRP

13442–16236

932

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase: replication and transcription of the viral genome. Primer dependent RdRp [2].

nsp13

16237–18039

601

DNA and RNA helicase/NTPase, 2′-O-ribose methyltransferase. RNA 5′-triphosphatase. RNA helicase 5′ triphosphatase [2].

nsp14

18040–19620

527

ExoN. 3′-to-5′ exonuclease. N7-guanine methyltransferase [2][11][12][15].

nsp15

19621–20658

346

Endoribonuclease, 3′-to-5′ exonuclease. NendoU. Evasion of dsRNA sensors [2].

nsp16

20659–21552

298

2′-O-ribose methyltransferase [16][17][18]. Avoids MDA5 recognition, negatively regulating innate immunity [2].

S

  

Spike (S)

21563–25384

1273

Structural protein; surface glycoprotein. Mediates virus–host cell binding.

ORF3a

  

ORF3a

25393–26220

275

Ion channel activity (viroporin) activates the NLRP3 inflammasome. May play a role in virus replication and pathogenesis.

E

  

Envelope (E)

26245–26472

75

Structural protein. Envelope protein. Facilitates assembly and release of the virus. It has ion channel activity required for pathogenesis.

M

  

Membrane (M)

26523–27191

222

Structural protein. Membrane glycoprotein. Located in the transmembrane domain; it is the most abundant structural protein.

ORF6

  

ORF6

27202–27387

61

Suppression of both primary interferon production and interferon signaling [19].

ORF7a

  

ORF7a

27394–27759

121

Type I transmembrane protein.

ORF7b

  

ORF7b

27756–27887

43

Localize to the Golgi compartment.

ORF8

  

ORF8

27894-28259

121

Interferes with host antiviral mechanisms [20].

N

  

Nucleocapsid (N)

28274–29533

419

Structural protein. Nucleocapsid phosphoprotein protects the viral RNA genome and is involved in packaging RNA into virus particles.

ORF10

  

ORF10

29558–29674

38

Unknown. No transcripts identified [10].

3′UTR

    

29675–29903

  
The remaining third of the genome comprises genes encoding the structural proteins [9]—spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) (Figure 1A)—and six predicted accessory proteins—ORF3a, ORF6, ORF7a, ORF7b, ORF8, and ORF10 [10]. According to experimental data, there is no evidence of ORF10 expression, so this protein is unlikely to be expressed. The other ORFs could have essential and diverse roles, given the analysis of other coronaviruses [2], but their functions remain largely unexplored (Table 1). The transcriptome of SARS-CoV-2 is poorly understood, but it seems clear that the most transcribed proteins are the structural ones. Besides the canonical transcripts, a wide variety of incomplete transcripts have been documented, as well as post-transcriptional modifications in the viral RNAm, including events of RNA fusion. However, the meaning of these elements remains unclear [10].
/media/item_content/202112/61ca69ceb7094jdb-09-00058-g001.png
Figure 1. (A) SARS-CoV-2 structure of the SARS-CoV-2, comprising an ssRNA and 4 structural proteins interacts with the host cell through the ACE2 receptor (dark blue). Blue field represents inside the host cell, and yellow field outside the cell. (B) Changes in the spike during the virus-cell interaction. At the left, the inactive or ‘down’ conformation, reluctant to bind ACE2. Spike–ACE2 binding produces a conformational change in the S towards the ‘up’ configuration. This is followed by S1/S2 cleavage by host enzymes and activation of the entry to the cell. (C) Viral ssRNA enters the cell and produces pp1a and pp1ab, which will provide the RTC plus structural proteins (S, N, E, M) and accessory proteins (ORF). (D) N proteins are assembled with the new replicated viral ssRNA to form the vRNP. New viruses bud from the ERGIC and are released from the cell.
From a mutational point of view, nonstructural proteins have attracted less attention than the structural components because the proteins on the virus surface represent the preferential targets of the host immune response. The S glycoprotein is the most exposed, located on the outer surface of the virion. It determines the initial interaction with the cell and most likely represents the primary determinant of host and tissue tropism. It is divided into S1 and S2 subunits (Figure 1B). S1 subunit is further subdivided into a receptor-binding domain (RBD) and an N-terminal domain (NTD) [21].
Given that adaptive mutations could be naturally selected in broader populations, studying SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants and their tracking with time might help us understand viral evolution, behavior, and development.

1.2. SARS-CoV-2 Way of Action

The SARS-CoV-2 initiates its viral cycle with attachment to the host cell—mediated by the spike, the main factor responsible for the infection (Figure 1A). S trimers recognize the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to perform the initial interaction with the host cells [22][23][24][25][26]. This occurs mainly on the respiratory epithelium, such as type II alveolar epithelial cells, where this receptor is abundant [27][28][29]. There are three different conformational states of the homotrimeric S glycoprotein (Figure 1B). The inactive or ‘down’ configuration corresponds to the receptor-inaccessible state. Upon binding to ACE2, it adopts a protruding ‘up’ conformation that promotes several rounds of cleavage by furin and other cell proteases in the S1/S2 site (see also Figure 2). This converts the S protein into an amino (N)-terminal S1 subunit and a carboxyl (C)-terminal S2 subunit responsible for virus–cell membrane fusion [3][30][31]. A second cleavage site, S2′, is highly conserved among coronaviruses and its cleavage is essential for successful infection [32][33][34][35]. The spike undergoes significant conformational changes towards an open state that facilitates attachment to the host cell [36]. The release of S1 triggers a structural rearrangement to fuse the viral membrane with the host cell membrane (Figure 1C) [33]. Both the plasma membrane (direct entry) [37] and endosomal [38] viral fusion pathways have been reported for SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells.
/media/item_content/202112/61ca69e3c23b7jdb-09-00058-g002.png
Figure 2. On the top, a schematic view of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that spans almost 30 kb. Polyprotein pp1a produces nsp1–nsp10 and pp1ab generates nsp1–nsp16. In the middle, the detailed structure of the spike protein. SS: signal sequence, NTD: N-terminal-domain, RBD: receptor binding domain, RBM: receptor binding motif, SD: subdomain, FP: fusion peptide, HR: heptad repeat, CH: central helix, CD: connector domain, TD: transmembrane domain, CT: cytoplasmic tail. Cleavage of the spike protein in SD1/SD2 yields spike subunits S1 and S2, activating the virus entry in the host cell. At the bottom, a schematic representation of the mutations included in the VOCs until September 2021. Red dotted lines point out mutations of concern that are shared by different variants.
Respiratory transmission is the primary route of infection; thus, the respiratory system is the predominant target for SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, it can affect other major organ systems, which could explain the multisystemic failure with fatal outcomes observed in some patients [16]. Environmental factors, such as temperature, population, and air pollution, affect viral spreading and mortality [39]. A few studies suggest a correlation between the extent of ACE2 expression in individuals and the clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in elderly populations and those with comorbidities [17][18][40].

1.3. Mutations in Coronavirus ssRNA

Mutations in the virus’s genome occur naturally due to mistakes in replication. Mutation rate, understood as the frequency of single nucleotide change per genome per viral cycle, ranges from 10−8 to 10−6 for DNA viruses and from 10−6 to 10−4 for RNA viruses [41]. The mutations are called synonymous when there is no change to the amino acid encoded by the gene and non-synonymous when the protein acquires an amino acidic change due to the mutation. They are mostly inconsequential and, in the case that they do change a protein, they tend to harm the virus more than improve it. Only a few of them can enhance the virus’ functions and its ability to spread or cause disease by affecting cell tropism or pathogenicity [42]. An extra advantage to the virus in terms of infectivity, transmissibility, or resistance against treatments or the immune system [43][44] will allow it to spread faster throughout the population.

2. Mutations in the spike Gene

The evolution rate of the spike is three times higher than the evolution rate across the entire SARS-CoV-2 genome but still within the range of other betacoronaviruses. The mutation rate is high enough to mutate on average every amino acid in the spike at least once in one patient [45]. The S protein, and particularly the RBD, has a central role in engaging the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to mediate cellular entry [46] and is a potential target for neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) elicited by either vaccination or natural infection [27][47][48][49][50]. There is also an addition of O-linked glycans that flank the cleavage site and are unique to SARS-CoV-2 [6]. Only a few RBD amino acids seem critical for binding to ACE2 receptors, determining the host range of SARS-CoV-like viruses [51].
The S protein possesses two surface areas of high mutagenic plasticity: the receptor-binding domain (RBD), where 17 residues make contact with the human ACE2, and the supersite in its N-terminal domain (NTD) [52]. Spike mutations can potentially facilitate better affinity or binding and improve the entry efficiency into the host cell. Increased infectiousness is commonly related to higher viral load in patients and, subsequently, increased transmissibility [53]. Moreover, the spikes are exposed to the virus surface, making them a key site targeted by human antibody immunity [54][55][56][57][58]. Overall, there is a substantial selection pressure over this protein that could explain why the spike RBD is the most variable part of the SARS-CoV-2 genome [8][11] and why some of its variations are considered to be of concern [59].
The analysis of mutated versions of the RBD domain shows that, despite the face that most of the mutations do not affect spike properties, a few of them are considered of concern and can improve the virus functions [60][61]. The positions at which amino acid substitutions are present at the highest frequency are close to the RBD–ACE2 interface.

2.1. D614G

The genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is unclear before the pandemic. Starting in 2020, soon after the emergence of the zoonosis, the D614G mutation, where amino acid D (aspartic acid) was replaced by G (glycine), appeared to be associated with higher transmissibility [27]. D614G is located in an area where S1/S2 successive cleavages occur that are necessary for the entrance of the virus into the cell (Figure 1B). While the wild-type S trimer opens only one RBD on average, the G614 trimer opens two or all three RBDs [62]. The analysis of the S protein structure using both cryo-electron microscopy [63] and computational modeling analysis [64] found that bearing D614G favors an ‘open’ configuration that facilitates ACE2 binding [11] and increases the spike density in the virion surface [65]. As a consequence, the viral infectivity is enhanced [23][44][66]. Experiments performed using pseudoviruses pointed out that the presence of this mutation makes cell infection up to ten times more efficient in a human lung cell line and airway tissues, also being at greater levels in the upper airways of infected hamsters [63][67][68]. Furthermore, the D614G mutation reduces furin cleavage, thereby lowering the risk of premature S1 shedding, and it enhances the thermal stability of the spike.
Despite the slight change in the viral sequence, the fitness advantages for the virus are profound. While inter-person transmission becomes more likely, neither disease progression nor neutralization by anti-spike antibodies are significantly affected by the D614G mutation [69][70]. The estimated increase in transmission offers the virus a selective advantage that makes it globally dominant [71]. The D614G mutation is the hallmark of all variants and delimitates the founding of the B1 lineage [72]. It has been prevalent during the whole pandemic and, at present, almost all new infections of COVID-19 contain this mutation, which is present in all variants of concern (VOCs).

2.2. N501Y

This mutation corresponds to an amino acid located in the RBD, near the tip of the spike, where it seems to change the protein’s shape to be a tighter fit with human cells. The residue 501 is at the RBD–ACE2 interface, and the N501Y change results in increased affinity of the S protein for the ACE2 receptors, enhancing the viral attachment and the subsequent entry into the host cells [55][72]. Consequently, this mutation contributes to the virus’s improved infectivity, and it has been associated with faster transmission and possible adverse illness in young and healthy individuals [73]. In fact, N501Y has been shown experimentally to result in one of the highest increases in ACE2 affinity conferred by a single RBD mutation [60]. Still, it is not an escape mutation [74].
The improved binding affinity of spike for the ACE2 receptor is one of the defining factors that explain the high cell infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and the fast expansion of this N501Y in the population [75], a mutation that has appeared recurrently in many different strains and it is present in some of the most relevant variants [76].

2.3. E484K

This amino acid substitution, E instead of K in position 484, is located close to the tip of the coronavirus spike and produces a change in the RBD area that alters the protein’s shape. Even though the S1 movements favor the RBD-up conformation in the E484K mutant [36], this mutation has shown neutral to very mild effects on RBD–ACE2 binding.
Nevertheless, the E484K substitution alone has been shown to confer resistance to neutralization by several nAbs [58][70][77][78][79][80][81], and it is associated with immune evasion where neutralization by some plasma is considerably reduced [55][56][82]. In fact, there is much evidence supporting the fact that the E484K mutation enables the virus to escape some people’s immune responses [83], sometimes being impervious to convalescent’s serum [84][55][57][58] and escaping even a potent polyclonal serum targeting multiple neutralizing epitopes [58][60][85][86]. As happened with N501Y, mutation E484K has emerged recurrently in many different lineages, such as Beta and Gamma, pointing out that this mutation is favored by evolution [76]. This adaptive advantage has allowed virus strains bearing it to spread quickly through human populations. The importance of this position is further underscored by the convergent appearance of the E484Q mutation in the Indian B.1.617 lineage.

2.4. Other RBD Mutations

A series of other mutations have been identified in the RBD [6] that provide resistance to nAbs and plasma from convalescent or vaccinated individuals. The substitution L452R can impair neutralization by several nAbs and convalescent plasma [29][58][85][87] and emerged independently in different lineages, such as the Delta and Epsilon variants [88]. The amino acid L452 does not directly contact ACE2 but lies just beside Y453, which is involved in receptor binding [52][89]. Mutation Y453F, along with N439K, G446V, K444E, and S477N, among others, which are located at the interface between the S1 and ACE2, have been shown to partially interfere with antibody binding and neutralization [29][55][60][85][86][90][91][92]. N439K has also been shown to enhance the binding affinity for the ACE2 receptor [60][92]. Close to them within the RBD, K417N, and K417T mutations have been repeatedly described to protect against binding to certain monoclonal antibodies [93]. Nevertheless, both K417N and K417T are expected to moderately decrease ACE2-binding affinity [60][94][95]. The main impact of the K417N mutation seems to be its ability to destabilize the RBD-down conformation (Figure 1B), thereby increasing the propensity of the open configuration [36]. Several studies point out that the combination of K417N + E484K + N501Y may cause a more significant decrease in neutralization than any single mutation by itself [36][96][97][98].

2.5. P681 Residue

Different mutations have been observed in this residue, such as the P681H mutation in the Alpha variant, P681R in Delta and ΔP681 in the Indian lineage B.1.617. The P681 site is located near the S1/S2 furin cleavage point. Its processing guarantees fusion with the membrane posterior to the spike–ACE2 interaction, thus allowing the virus entry into the cell [99]. It has been shown that artificial deletions in the S1/S2 site produce attenuated virus variants [100]. In fact, an insertion in position 681–684 can alter the viral function [101], suggesting that P681 may be under intense selective pressure.

2.6. NTD Deletions

RBD is immunodominant, although there is evidence for a substantial role of NTD in antigenicity [102]. NTD mutations converge allosterically on regions that enable the Spike to escape some nAbs. Deletions in the NTD have been observed repeatedly in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, and they have been shown to change NTD antigenicity [57][103][104]. Some recurrently deleted regions within the NTD have been identified: Δ69–70, Δ141–144, Δ144–145, Δ146, Δ210 and Δ243–244 associated with a certain capacity to escape antibody neutralization [105][104][106][107]. The former is also related to the failure of the three S-target RT-PCR assay [108] and, subsequently, to the difficulty of SARS-CoV-2 detection. Its appearance is recurrent and often co-occurs with N439K, Y453F, and N501Y mutations [109], suggesting a selective advantage and possible epistasis between mutations, which should be further examined.
Unlike substitutions, deletions cannot be corrected by proofreading activity, which may accelerate adaptive evolution in SARS-CoV-2.

2.7. Mutations out of the spike Gene

Additional profound changes outside the spike gene started to be reported [110][111]. To date, there is a long list of mutations identified in SARS-CoV-2 by sequencing, including substitutions, deletions, and insertions, summarized in databases like CoV-GLUE (http://cov-glue-viz.cvr.gla.ac.uk/, accessed on 15 November 2021) where they can be consulted. Unfortunately, very little is known of the biological meaning of most mutations found. An analysis of GISAID sequences has identified a strain with a nine-nucleotide deletion in the nsp1 gene that might affect the C-terminal region of the protein involved in the regulation of viral replication [112][113]. Nsp1, also known as the leader protein (Table 1), is central to inhibiting the antiviral innate immune response, particularly the expression of interferon-alpha. Extensive deletion in the ORF7a gene [114] and a deletion in the nsp2 gene [115] have been detected clustered in European populations, but their impact is unknown.

3. SARS-CoV-2 Lineages. Classification of Variants: VOC and VOI

More than five million genome sequences have been deposited in open-source platforms such as GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/, accessed on 2 December 2021), Nexstrain (https://nextstrain.org/, accessed on 2 December 2021) [76] and NCBI Virus (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/virus/, accessed on 2 December 2021). Their phylogenetic analysis highlights multiple clusters of related genomes, defined as clades, based on a set of common mutations. Lineages are analyzed, organized [116] and made available in public sites such as Pango (https://cov-lineages.org, accessed on 15 September 2021). Clade O was the ancestral type described in Wuhan [8][23]. Starting in 2020, it diversified into a more prevalent clade 19A (clade L) and clade 19B (clade S) [117]. A new clade bearing mutation D614G, called A2a or Clade G, identified in February 2020, became the founder of the B1 lineage and spread globally [61][118].
The variants of SARS-CoV-2 are defined by a particular genetic profile and a certain origin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [119], the ECDC [120], and the World Health Organization [121] have independently established a classification system for distinguishing them into variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs). The variants of interest (VOIs) are defined as those ‘bearing specific genetic markers that could be related to enhanced transmissibility or virulence, a reduction in neutralization by antibodies obtained through natural infection or vaccination, the ability to evade detection, or a decrease in the effectiveness of therapeutics or vaccination [27]. VOCs have already proven to fulfil these criteria and, because they disperse rapidly through populations, they are considered a threat to public health. Since September 2021, due to the fast expansion of the Delta variant, most of the other variants have been displaced and are now considered unimportant for the institutions mentioned. Most of these variants are now classified as variants under monitoring (VUM) for the WHO, variants being monitored for the CDC or even de-escalated for the ECDC.
The variants accumulate a series of mutations that characterize them and, surprisingly, some of the VOCs share mutations that repeatedly appear in different virus strains and locations [76]. The recurrent occurrence of the same mutations and their fast spread into other populations suggests the existence of selection advantages for them. It points out a phenomenon of convergent evolution [120][103][107]. The variability accumulates better in the context of chronic infections or in previously immunized individuals [122][104][123][124][125], which could benefit the spontaneous co-occurrence of the same mutations in different lineages.
Despite the virus’s sluggish mutation rate, researchers have catalogued more than 12,000 mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes. It has been estimated that two SARS-CoV-2 viruses collected from anywhere in the world differed by an average of 10 changes [122], primarily single substitutions, along with small deletions. Unfortunately, scientists can spot mutations in RNA sequences faster than they can make sense of their meaning and their implications in pathogenesis.
As expected, variants with improved efficiency in replication, transmission or infection spread very fast all over population. The variants have been assigned with different nomenclatures. They were initially defined by the date of first appearance and their level of concern (i.e., VOC-202012/01), or by any of the mutations they bear (i.e., 20I/501Y.V1) or according to their genetic Pango lineage (i.e., B.1.1.7). In June 2021, the World Health Organization introduced a new naming system [126] based on Greek letters.
Since the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, few VOCs have been considered—only Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, which are associated with enhanced transmissibility and increased virulence [16]. Although Delta has dispersed worldwide and is now the focus of attention, all variants require special care and surveillance [127].

4. Escape Mutations and Vaccine Efficacy

While antiviral medication development has not been very successful, about one year after the pandemic’s breakout, there are at least 13 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in use [128][129]. All of them have been developed to train the immune system to recognize the S protein, which is immunodominant [130]. Two mRNA-based vaccines were developed by Pfizer and BioNTech (BNT162b2) and by Moderna (mRNA-1273). Oxford University developed the AstraZeneca vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) based on a chimpanzee adenovirus-vector [131]. The Janssen vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S, by Johnson and Johnson), administered in a single shot, is based on an inactivated virus [132]. These are only a few of the vaccines that are now globally available for public use and they are likely the most widely scrutinized. They have proven to be safe, and they have already been administered to millions of people.
To date, the administration of vaccines has been shown to avoid fatal disease, but they cannot completely block the contagion. As herd immunity rises, whether, through infection or vaccination, a steady trickle of immune-evading mutations could help SARS-CoV-2 to establish itself permanently, potentially causing mostly mild symptoms when it infects individuals immunized from a previous infection or vaccination. Despite the successes in vaccine development, reports of mutations are increasing. Some of these mutations bypass the immunity provided by several vaccine candidates [70].
The efficacy of the BNT162b2 vaccine against the four VOCs has been proven. Neutralization of the Alpha and Gamma variants was roughly equivalent [133][134]. On the other side, the neutralization of Beta was vigorous but lower than the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain [135][136][137]. Chen and colleagues [138] reported that sera from BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals showed decreased neutralizing potency against Alpha (2-fold), E484K + N501Y + D614G recombinant (4-fold), and two chimeric SARS-CoV-2 strains encoding Beta (10-fold) and Gamma (2.2-fold) compared to the D614G original. These data fit with other data published for both mRNA vaccines tested [98][139], but they found no significant effect for K417N mutation alone. In addition, convalescent plasma obtained six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection was 0.5- to 20.2-fold less effective at neutralizing the K417N + E484K + N501Y combination [27][96][97][98]. In vitro analysis of serum samples obtained from individuals administered the mRNA-1273 vaccine shows no change in the neutralization of the Alpha variant. Conversely, the analysis showed a decrease in titers of nAbs against the Alpha + E484K variant, Beta, Gamma and Epsilon variants. The reduction in neutralizing titers was significantly lower in the Beta variant [140][141].
In the case of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a 9.5-fold reduction in nAbs has been shown against Beta compared to Alpha [142][143]. A two-dose regimen of the AstraZeneca vaccine did not confer enough protection against the Beta variant based on results from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized control trial [139]. Another trial showed that in vitro neutralization activity of this vaccine against the Alpha variant was red. The vaccine’s clinical efficacy was 70.4% compared to the 81.5% efficacy noted in previous variants [144].
The Delta variant is less sensitive to sera from naturally immunized individuals and partially, but notably, escapes neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies elicited by previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 or by vaccination. A single dose of either the Pfizer or the AstraZeneca vaccines induced a barely detectable level (10%) of nAbs against the Delta variant. About 10% of the sera neutralized this variant. Nevertheless, a two-dose regimen generated high sero-neutralization levels against the Alpha, Beta and Delta. The two-dose effectiveness against the Delta variant was estimated to be around 60% for AstraZeneca [145][146]. Neutralization experiments indicate that antibodies elicited by the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are efficacious against the Delta variant, but about three to fivefold less potent than those against the Alpha variant [138][147][148][149]. Recent experiments have shown that the Moderna vaccine could be the most efficient and long-lasting of all vaccines, closely followed by the Pfizer formulation [150][151]. On the other side, the Janssen vaccine presents a significative reduced efficiency compared to mRNA-based vaccines, particularly in a single dose [152].
The emergence of resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants may nullify the effects of current COVID-19 vaccines. Nevertheless, COVID-19 vaccines can elicit not only nAbs but also SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses that are poorly characterized. Cellular immunity may be more cross-reactive than the humoral response. It has recently been reported that T-cell responses to the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Epsilon variants did not differ from those to the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2 [153].
Unfortunately, in a scenario of concern due to the high levels of circulating virus, which is facilitating the appearance of new variants across the globe, it is impossible to discard the idea that the vaccine efficiency could diminish [84].

5. COVID-19 during Human Development

To date, limited evidence prevents us from attaining a clear picture of how SARS-CoV-2 infection by different genetic variants could differentially affect human development. It is known that the course in pediatric COVID-19 is milder than in adults, as children have a better prognosis and deaths are extremely rare. One of the most consistent and biologically plausible theories emerging in the literature regarding the mild (if any) disease SARS-CoV-2 in children has been associated with age-related differences in AC. However, this remains only a hypothesis [154]. On the other hand, aged people, patients with comorbidities, or pregnant women can suffer an especially severe COVID-19 that results in hospitalization [28][29][43]. In a multinational cohort study, it was observed that women with COVID-19 diagnosis were at an increased risk of a composite maternal morbidity and mortality index. Newborns of women with COVID-19 diagnosis had significantly higher severe neonatal morbidity index and severe perinatal morbidity and mortality index compared with newborns of women without COVID-19 diagnosis. This study indicates a consistent association between pregnant individuals with COVID-19 diagnosis and higher rates of adverse outcomes, including maternal mortality, preeclampsia, and preterm birth compared with pregnant individuals without COVID-19 diagnosis [155] More studies are needed to understand these phenomena.
In the particular case of the Delta variant, hospital systems in different countries report numbers of younger people, even babies, admitted to hospital and a growing prevalence of severe or critical illness [156][157][158]. This could be a consequence of the enormous viral load found in individuals infected with the Delta variant, and the improved capacities for cell entry worsening the disease symptoms, along with the fact that young people are not yet vaccinated in many populations. Physicians are urging pregnant women to vaccinate as the Delta variant surges, and many countries have already started vaccinating their youngest population [159]. Much more data are needed and interesting ongoing trials are covering the topic [160].
Although the most common symptoms are related to breathing problems, SARS-CoV-2 infections also affect the gastrointestinal tract, culminating in inflammation and diarrhea. The mechanisms related to these enteric manifestations are still not well understood, but it has been hypothesized that an mTOR-driven increased autophagy that leads to intestinal dysbiosis could explain these symptoms [161].

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Subjects: Developmental Biology; Evolutionary Biology; Virology
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Raquel Pérez-Gómez
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Entry Collection: COVID-19
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Update Date: 28 Dec 2021
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