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RESEARCH PRODUCT
SARS-CoV-2 genome surveillance in Mainz, Germany, reveals convergent origin of the N501Y spike mutation in a hospital setting
Anastasija MichelSusanne GerberNiels A. W. LemmermannSusann SchweigerStefan RunkelAngélique RenzahoKohnen WLaufs TLieb BLinke MThomas HankelnBodo PlachterBikar Ssubject
GeneticsConvergent evolutionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Viral evolutionGenotypeMutation (genetic algorithm)Spike (database)BiologyGenomeDNA sequencingdescription
AbstractWhile establishing a regional SARS-Cov-2 variant surveillance by genome sequencing, we have identified three infected individuals in a clinical setting (two long-term hospitalized patients and a nurse) that shared the spike N501Y mutation within a genotype background distinct from the current viral variants of concern. We suggest that the adaptive N501Y mutation, known to increase SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility, arose by convergent evolution around December in Mainz, Germany. Hospitalized patients with a compromised immune system may be a potential source of novel viral variants, which calls for monitoring viral evolution by genome sequencing in clinical settings.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-02-12 |