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. 2023 Apr 20;11(2):64. doi: 10.3390/diseases11020064

Table 1.

Circulating variants of concerns (VOCs).

WHO Name Pango Lineage GISAID Clade Next Strain Clade Country/Date of First Detection Date of Designation Pathophysiology Epidemiology
Previously circulating VOCs Alpha B.1.1.7 GRY 20I (V1) United Kingdom VOC: 18 December 2020
  • -

    nine mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: two deletions and seven amino acid substitutions [44]

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    higher transmissibility (43–82% more transmissible) [44]

  • -

    higher viral load [44]

  • -

    longer duration of infection [44]

  • -

    higher hospitalization rate [44]

  • -

    higher mortality rate [44]

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    have higher reproduction numbers—a rate 40–90% higher than D614G

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    reinfection is lower than other strains [44]

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    susceptible to neutralizing antibodies by spike vaccines [44]
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    as of February 2021, responsible for nearly 95% of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in England [44]

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    affects mainly healthier and younger patients [44]

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    variable reports on severity, some studies have shown it does not increase the severity and has been associated with milder disease [44]
September 2020
Previous VOC: 9 March 2022
Beta B.1.351 GH/501Y.V2 20H (V2) South Africa VOC: 18 December 2020
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    18 amino acid mutations (7 in the spike protein) and 3 amino acid deletions in the spike protein [44]

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    Mutations at the RBD: N501Y, E484K, and K417N [44]

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    higher transmissibility [44]

  • -

    higher viral load [44]

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    higher reinfection [44]

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    higher vaccine escape [44]

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    higher hospitalization rate [44]

  • -

    higher mortality rate [44]

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    more resistant to neutralization by sera from vaccinated individuals and convalescent plasma [44]
  • -

    As of January 2021, the variant had spread to several countries [44]

  • -

    cases involving those <60 years old were found to have a higher hospitalization rate and admission rate to intensive unit care [44]
May 2020
Previous VOC: 9 March 2022
Gamma P.1 GR/501Y.V3 20J (V3) Brazil, VOC: 11 January 2021
  • -

    multiple spike protein mutations, including K417T, E484K, N501Y in the RBD; L18F, T20N, P26S, D138Y, R190S in the NTD; D614G and H655Y at C terminus in S1; and V1176F and T1027I in S2 [44]

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    higher transmissibility [44]

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    has a probability of reinfection of 6.4% [44]

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    higher viral load [44]

  • -

    higher hospitalization [44]

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    resistant to neutralization [44]
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    Associated with travel-related cases detected in Japan and São Paulo [44]

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    a higher hospitalization rate and admission rate to an intensive unit care especially for those <60 years of age

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    in terms of the disease severity, limited published data available [44]
November 2020
Previous VOC: 9 March 2022
Delta B.1.617.2 G/478K.V1 21A, 21I, 21J India VOI: 4 April 2021
  • -

    spike mutations: D614G, D950N, L452R, T19R, T478K, P681R, 156–157 deletion and R158G and G142D. The G142D is found only in some B.1.617.2; B.1.617.3, with the next strain name 20A, has spike protein mutations: D614G, D950N, L452R, P681R, T19R, E484Q, and G142D [44]

  • -

    60% more transmissible than B.1.1.7

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    higher risk of hospitalization [44]

  • -

    higher viral load [44]

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    increase severity [44]

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    higher vaccine escape [44]
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    associated with more pediatric cases [44]
October 2020 VOC: 11 May 2021
Previous VOC: 7 June 2022
Currently circulating VOCs Omicron 1 B.1.1.529 GR/484A 21K, 21L, 21M, 22A, Multiple countries VUM: 24 November 2021
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    highly infectious, highly mutated, highly transmissible, and highly resistant to available vaccines [45]

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    several mutations in (or near) RBD, NTD, RBM, S2 domains and furin cleavage site, affecting antibody binding and ACE2 binding [45]

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    interacts less efficiently with neutralizing convalescent mAb [45]
  • -

    in early and mid-November 2021, it was detected in Botswana and several areas of South Africa, particularly Gauteng province [45]. Then, it became a global concern as nearly 150 countries had a surge in Omicron cases (including the USA, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, India, and other countries) [45]
22B, 22C, 22D November 21 VOC: 26 November 2021

1 Includes BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5 and descendent lineages. It also includes BA.1/BA.2 circulating recombinant forms such as XE.