Appropriate names for COVID-19 variants
Salim S. Abdool Karim, Túlio de Oliveira, Glaudina Loots
Abstract
Multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are now circulating globally. Those with mutations in functional domains such as the receptor binding domain of the spike protein are of particular concern (1). In December 2020, three new variants of concern (VOC) with a common mutation at position 501 in the spike protein were reported: VOC-202012/01 (B.1.1.7, 501Y.V1, 20I) (2) was first identified in the United Kingdom, 501Y.V2 (B.1.351, 20H) (1) was first described by South African researchers, and P.1 (501Y.V3, 20J) was first identified in Japan and described by Brazilian researchers (3). Unfortunately, variants are widely being referred to by their country of first description. This naming convention should be avoided.