Cell· 2020Q1
Tracking Changes in SARS-CoV-2 Spike: Evidence that D614G Increases Infectivity of the COVID-19 Virus
- 4,487citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2020year
Short summary
The SARS-CoV-2 D614G variant, characterized by a change in the Spike protein, has become the dominant form globally, showing a statistically significant increase in frequency across multiple geographic levels.
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Key points
- The D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein has led to the variant becoming the most prevalent globally.
- The G614 variant shows a statistically significant and recurrent increase in frequency at national, regional, and municipal levels.
- G614 pseudotyped virions exhibit higher growth titers compared to D614.
- In infected individuals, G614 is linked to lower RT-PCR cycle thresholds (suggesting higher viral loads) but not increased disease severity.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
A SARS-CoV-2 variant carrying the Spike protein amino acid change D614G has become the most prevalent form in the global pandemic. Dynamic tracking of variant frequencies revealed a recurrent pattern of G614 increase at multiple geographic levels: national, regional, and municipal. The shift occurred even in local epidemics where the original D614 form was well established prior to introduction of the G614 variant. The consistency of this pattern was highly statistically significant, suggesting that the G614 variant may have a fitness advantage. We found that the G614 variant grows to a higher titer as pseudotyped virions. In infected individuals, G614 is associated with lower RT-PCR cycle thresholds, suggestive of higher upper respiratory tract viral loads, but not with increased disease severity. These findings illuminate changes important for a mechanistic understanding of the virus and support continuing surveillance of Spike mutations to aid with development of immunological interventions.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Cell, 2020 · DOI ↗
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Field: Infectious Diseases
Infectious DiseasesMedicine