SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Their Relevant Mutational Profiles: Update Summer 2021
Mohammad Alkhatib, Valentina Svicher, Romina Salpini, Francesca Alessandra Ambrosio, Maria Concetta Bellocchi, Luca Carioti, Lorenzo Piermatteo, Rossana Scutari, Giosuè Costa, Anna Artese, Stefano Alcaro, Robert Shafer, Francesca Ceccherini-Silberstein
Abstract
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, several recurrent mutations, particularly in the spike protein, arose during human-to-human transmission or spillover events between humans and animals, generating distinct worrisome variants of concern (VOCs) or of interest (VOIs), designated as such due to their clinical and diagnostic impacts. Characterizing these variants and their related mutations is important in tracking SAR-CoV-2 evolution and understanding the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics based on monoclonal antibodies, convalescent-phase sera, and direct antivirals. Our study provides a comprehensive survey of the mutational profiles characterizing the important SARS-CoV-2 variants, focusing on spike mutations and highlighting other protein mutations.