A Reference Guide to Notable SARS-CoV-2 Variants

This blog represents the most up-to-date information as of November 30, 2021.

Since viruses are constantly evolving, new genetic variants with various mutations appear all the time, and SARS-CoV-2 is no different. Currently, there are multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating globally. While variants of SARS-CoV-2 are not new (throughout the global crisis, SARS-CoV-2 has been mutating regularly, there has been a drastic change in the number of mutations the virus has accumulated in short periods of time, causing concern around the world¹.

Several new SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged that range from having increased transmissibility to comparable or even potentially increased severity of disease². New information is rapidly emerging, and scientists are working to learn more about these variants to better understand how easily they might be transmitted, whether they may confer increased virulence, the effectiveness of currently authorized vaccines against them, and more. Additionally, COVID-19 testing labs may have questions about the potential impact of the mutations on current molecular diagnostic tests.

Mutations and the TaqPath COVID-19 portfolio of tests

We are committed to providing our customers with gold-standard molecular diagnostic technology. The TaqPath COVID-19 portfolio of diagnostic tests use a multi-target assay design to compensate for emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Additionally, we actively monitor post-market reports, publications, and public genomic databases to ensure our coronavirus assays continue to meet the highest quality standards. As part of our post-market surveillance efforts, we collect, review, and analyze data on the performance of our tests, including assessing whether any emerging mutations overlap with our assay design.

As our TaqPath COVID-19 portfolio of assays are all designed to detect multiple genetic targets, the overall test sensitivity should not be affected by the currently known SARS-CoV-2 variants.*

Reference guide to notable SARS-CoV-2 variants and the TaqPath COVID-19 tests

 

Variant name(s)	Potential concerns			Currently known impact on our tests*
	Transmissibility	Virulence (disease severity)	Vaccine efficacy or immune evasion
Alpha (B.1.1.7)	Increased transmissibility3	Some evidence of potential increased disease severity4	Little to no concern of vaccine efficacy3	No known impact on overall test sensitivity •     Decreased sensitivity of only S gene (S gene dropout) due to 69-70del •     S gene advantage: S gene dropout may signal presence of 69-70del & potentially B.1.1.7
Beta (B.1.351)	Increased transmissibility3	No evidence of increased disease severity3	Potential for immune escape and possible effect on vaccine efficacy3	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Gamma (P.1); Zeta (P.2)	Potentially more transmissible5	No evidence of increased disease severity3	Increased propensity for reinfection5, but potential for immune escape unknown3	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Epsilon (B.1.427, B.1.429)	Potentially more transmissible6	Effect on virulence requires more investigation6	Effect on vaccine requires more investigation6	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
B.1.1.207	No evidence of increased transmissibility3	No evidence of increased disease severity3	Effect on vaccine efficacy or immune escape unknown	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
A.23.1	Effect on transmissibility unknown7	Effect on disease severity unknown7	Potential for immune escape being investigated7	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
COH.20G/501Y	No evidence of increased transmissibility3	No evidence of increased disease severity3	Effect on vaccine efficacy or immune escape unknown3	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Iota (B.1.526)	Potentially more transmissible8	Potentially more virulent8	Concerns about vaccine efficacy and immune escape8	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Theta (P.3)	Potentially more transmissible10	No evidence of increased disease severity10	Effect on vaccine efficacy or immune escape requires investigation10	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Delta (B.1.617.2); Kappa (B.1.617.1)	Potentially more transmissible11	Effect on disease severity unknown11	Effect on vaccine efficacy or immune escape requires investigation11	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Lambda (C.37)	Potentially increased transmissibility12	Effect on disease severity unknown12	Effect on vaccine efficacy or immune escape requires investigation12	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Mu (B.1.621)	Potentially increased transmissibility12	Effect on disease severity unknown12	Effect on vaccine efficacy or immune escape requires investigation12	No known impact on overall test sensitivity
Omicron (B.1.1.529)	Potentially increased transmissibility13	Potentially increased risk for reinfections13	Potentially significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness<sup13	No known impact on overall test sensitivity Decreased sensitivity of only S gene (S gene dropout) due to 69-70del S gene advantage: S gene dropout may signal presence of 69-70del and potentially B.1.1.529

* As of November 29, 2021

Learn more

Visit our emerging mutations and variants webpage for more information. If you have questions about the emerging variants and their impact on the efficacy of our portfolio, or if you would like to discuss your specific situation, please contact our technical support team at thermofisher.com/contactus.

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References

1. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/threat-assessment-brief-rapid-increase-sars-cov-2-variant-united-kingdom
2. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/scientific-brief-emerging-variants.html
3. https://www.biotecnika.org/2021/02/variants-mutations-of-sars-cov-2-a-complete-list/
4. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/961037/NERVTAG_note_on_B.1.1.7_severity_for_SAGE_77__1_.pdf
5. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-we-know-about-the-p1-variant-of-the-coronavirus.html
6. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/02/coronavirus-strain-first-identified-california-may-be-more-infectious-and-cause-more
7. https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-variant-found-in-uganda-is-of-potential-biological-concern-2021-2
8. https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/another-potentially-immunity-evading-sars-cov-2-variant-detected-68456
9. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/what-we-know-so-far-covid-19-variant-found-philippines
10. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/04/12/an-indian-sars-cov-2-variant-lands-in-california-more-danger-ahead/?sh=526335c03b29
11. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/health/lambda-variant-covid-peru.html
12. https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/what-we-know-about-mu-the-who-s-latest-variant-of-interest-69161

13. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/threat-assessment-brief-emergence-sars-cov-2-variant-b.1.1.529

 

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