Mutation-Specific SARS-CoV-2 PCR Screen: Rapid and Accurate Detection of Variants of Concern and the Identification of a Newly Emerging Variant with Spike L452R Mutation
Huanyu Wang, Sophonie Jean, Richard Eltringham, John Madison, Pamela J. Snyder, Huolin Tu, Daniel M. Jones, Amy L. Leber
Abstract
= 5) variants using spike (S) mutation S-N501Y, S-E484K, and S-H69-V70del assays. The S-L450R assay, designed to detect the B.1.427/429 VOC, also identified multiple isolates of a newly emerging multiply mutated B.1.526.1 variant that is now rapidly increasing in the eastern United States. PCR approaches can be easily adopted in clinical laboratories, providing rapid screening methods to allow early detection of newly emergent variants and to efficiently triage cases for full genomic sequencing.
Topics & Concepts
TypingMultiplexBiologyConcordanceMutationSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)VirologyGeneticsMultiplex polymerase chain reactionComputational biologyCoronavirusWhole genome sequencingGenomeCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Polymerase chain reactionGeneMedicineDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)PathologySARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology