| Name (Pango lineage) |
Substitution | Name (Nextstraina) |
First Detected | BEI Reference Isolateb |
Predicted Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.1.526 | Spike: (L5F*), T95I, D253G, (S477N*), (E484K*), D614G, (A701V*) ORF1a: L3201P, T265I, Δ3675/3677 ORF1b: P314L, Q1011H ORF3a: P42L, Q57H ORF8: T11I 5’UTR: R81C |
20C | New York/November 2020 |
|
|
| B.1.525 | Spike: A67V, Δ69/70, Δ144, E484K, D614G, Q677H, F888L ORF1b: P314F ORF1a: T2007I M: I82T N: A12G, T205I 5’UTR: R81C |
20C | New York/December 2020 |
|
|
| P.2 | Spike: E484K, D614G, V1176F ORF1a: L3468V, L3930F ORF1b: P314L N: A119S, R203K, G204R, M234I 5’UTR: R81C |
20J | Brazil/April 2020 |
|
(*)=detected in some sequences but not all
a – Nextstrainexternal icon
b – 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.
These variants share one specific mutation called D614G. This mutation was one of the first documented in the US in the initial stages of the pandemic, after having initially circulated in Europe[13]. There is evidence that variants with this mutation spread more quickly than viruses without this mutation [12external icon].
Variant of Concern
A variant for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.
Possible attributes of a variant of concern:
In addition to the possible attributes of a variant of interest
- Evidence of impact on diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines
- Widespread interference with diagnostic test targets
- Evidence of substantially increased resistance to one or more class of therapies
- Evidence of significant decreased neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination
- Evidence of reduced vaccine-induced protection from severe disease
- Evidence of increased transmissibility
- Evidence of increased disease severity
Variants of concern might require one or more appropriate public health actions, such as notification to WHO under the International Health Regulations, reporting to CDC, local or regional efforts to control spread, increased testing, or research to determine the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments against the variant. Based on the characteristics of the variant, additional considerations may include the development of new diagnostics or the modification of vaccines or treatments.
Current variants of concern in the United States that are being closely monitored and characterized by federal agencies are included in the table below. The table will be updated when a new variant of concern is identified.
| Name (Pango lineage) |
Spike Protein Substitutions |
Name |
First Detected | BEI Reference Isolateb |
Known Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.1.1.7 | Δ69/70 Δ144Y (E484K*) (S494P*) N501Y A570D D614G P681H |
20I/501Y.V1 | United Kingdom | NR-54000external icon |
|
| P.1 | K417N/T E484K N501Y D614G |
20J/501Y.V3 | Japan/ Brazil |
NR-54982external icon |
|
| B.1.351 | K417N E484K N501Y D614G |
20H/501.V2 | South Africa | NR-54009external icon |
|
| B.1.427 | L452R D614G |
20C/S:452R | US-California |
|
|
| B.1.429 | S13I W152C L452R D614G |
20C/S:452R | US-California |
|
(*)=detected in some sequences but not all
a – Nextstrainexternal icon
b – 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.
These variants share one specific mutation called D614G. This mutation was one of the first documented in the US in the initial stages of the pandemic, after having initially circulated in Europe[13]. There is evidence that variants with this mutation spread more quickly than viruses without this mutation [12external icon].
Variant of High Consequence
A variant of high consequence has clear evidence that prevention measures or medical countermeasures (MCMs) have significantly reduced effectiveness relative to previously circulating variants.
Possible attributes of a variant of high consequence:
In addition to the possible attributes of a variant of concern
- Impact on Medical Countermeasures (MCM)
- Demonstrated failure of diagnostics
- Evidence to suggest a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness, a disproportionately high number of vaccine breakthrough cases, or very low vaccine-induced protection against severe disease
- Significantly reduced susceptibility to multiple Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or approved therapeutics
- More severe clinical disease and increased hospitalizations
A variant of high consequence would require public health officials declare a PHEIC (if not already declared), reporting to CDC, an announcement of strategies to prevent or contain transmission, and recommendations to update treatments and vaccines.
Currently there are no SARS-CoV-2 variants that rise to the level of high consequence.