tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Environ Microbiol
. 2021 Jul 28.
doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.15687. Online ahead of print.
Facing the wrath of enigmatic mutations: A review on the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants amid COVID-19 pandemic
Jatin Chadha[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lavanya Khullar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nidhi Mittal[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging respiratory virus responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. More than a year into this pandemic, the COVID-19 fatigue is still escalating and takes hold of the entire world population. Driven by the ongoing geographical expansion and upcoming mutations, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a new shape in the form of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. These mutations in the viral spike (S) protein enhance the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 variants by improving viral infectivity, transmissibility, and immune evasion abilities. Such variants have resulted in cluster outbreaks and fresh infection waves in various parts of the world with increased disease severity and poor clinical outcomes. Hence, the variants of SARS-CoV-2 pose a threat to human health and public safety. This review enlists the most recent updates regarding the presently characterized variants of SARS-CoV-2 recognized by the global regulatory health authorities (WHO, CDC). Based on the slender literature on SARS-CoV-2 variants, we collate information on the biological implications of these mutations on virus pathology. We also shed light on the efficacy of therapeutics and COVID-19 vaccines against the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
. 2021 Jul 28.
doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.15687. Online ahead of print.
Facing the wrath of enigmatic mutations: A review on the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants amid COVID-19 pandemic
Jatin Chadha[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lavanya Khullar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nidhi Mittal[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34320263
- DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15687
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging respiratory virus responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. More than a year into this pandemic, the COVID-19 fatigue is still escalating and takes hold of the entire world population. Driven by the ongoing geographical expansion and upcoming mutations, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a new shape in the form of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. These mutations in the viral spike (S) protein enhance the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 variants by improving viral infectivity, transmissibility, and immune evasion abilities. Such variants have resulted in cluster outbreaks and fresh infection waves in various parts of the world with increased disease severity and poor clinical outcomes. Hence, the variants of SARS-CoV-2 pose a threat to human health and public safety. This review enlists the most recent updates regarding the presently characterized variants of SARS-CoV-2 recognized by the global regulatory health authorities (WHO, CDC). Based on the slender literature on SARS-CoV-2 variants, we collate information on the biological implications of these mutations on virus pathology. We also shed light on the efficacy of therapeutics and COVID-19 vaccines against the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.