SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Now Available

by | Apr 22, 2021 | Blog, News

World Map COVID-19 Variants of Concern

IITRI now has access to multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Currently available: B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma).

Available soon: B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.617.2 (Delta)

These variants are available for use in our assays (immunostain and neutralization) as well as our COVID-19 animal models (such as the Syrian hamster). We offer multiple routes of administration for drug substances including inhalation. Our team would love to speak to anyone looking to test their candidates, contact us anytime. Feel free to reach out about other variants we are in the process of obtaining.

Selected Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern

B.1.1.7 (Pango lineage)a

Spike Protein Substitutions: 69del, 70del, 144del, (E484K*), (S494P*), N501Y, A570D, D614G, P681H, T716I, S982A, D1118H (K1191N*)

Name (Nextstrain)b: 20I/501Y.V1

WHO Label: Alpha

First Identified: United Kingdom

BEI Reference Isolatec: NR-54000

Attributes:

  • ~50% increased transmission5
  • Potential increased severity based on hospitalizations and case fatality rates6
  • No impact on susceptibility to EUA monoclonal antibody treatments7,14
  • Minimal impact on neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera8-13,19

B.1.351 (Pango lineage)a

Spike Protein Substitutions: D80A, D215G, 241del, 242del, 243del, K417N, E484K, N501Y, D614G, A701V

Name (Nextstrain)b: 20H/501.V2

WHO Label: Beta

First Identified: South Africa

BEI Reference Isolatec: NR-55282

Attributes:

  • ~50% increased transmission16
  • Significantly reduced susceptibility to the combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab monoclonal antibody treatment,7 but other EUA monoclonal antibody treatments are available 14
  • Reduced neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera8,12,18,19,20

    P.1 (Pango lineage)a

    Spike Protein Substitutions: L18F, T20N, P26S, D138Y, R190S, K417T, E484K, N501Y, D614G, H655Y, T1027I

    Name (Nextstrain)b: 20J/501Y.V3

    WHO Label: Gamma

    First Identified: Japan/Brazil

    BEI Reference Isolatec: NR-54982

    Attributes:

    • Significantly reduced susceptibility to the combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab monoclonal antibody treatment,7 but other EUA monoclonal antibody treatments are available 14
    • Reduced neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera15

    (*) = detected in some sequences but not all

    a – Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak (PANGO) Lineages is software tool developed by members of the Rambaut Lab. The associated web application was developed by the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance in South Cambridgeshire and is intended to implement the dynamic nomenclature of SARS-CoV-2 lineages, known as the PANGO nomenclature.

    b – Nextstrain, a collaboration between researchers in Seattle, USA and Basel, Switzerland, provides open-source tools for visualizing the genetics of outbreaks. The goal is to support public health surveillance by facilitating understanding of the spread and evolution of pathogens.

    c – The Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources (BEI Resources) is a NIAID-funded repository to provide reagents, tools, and information to the research community. The reference viruses proposed here facilitate the harmonization of information among all stakeholders in the COVID-19 pandemic research community. Please note that the reference viruses provided in the tables below are based on what is currently available through the BEI resources.

     

     

    For more information about the SARS-CoV-2 assays and tests we currently offer, click here.

    COVID-19 variants UK Brazil South Africa