Table 2.

Predominant Spike Mutations associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Name of the Mutation	Location in Spike Protein	Important Effects
N501Y	Receptor-Binding Domain	✓ Increased interaction with ACE2 receptor ✓ Increased binding affinity ✓ Escapes some neutralizing antibodies ✓ K417N attenuates affinity for ACE2 but compensated by N501Y mutation [49]
K417N and K417T	Receptor-Binding Domain	✓ Conformational change in the S protein [50,51] ✓ Escapes some neutralizing antibodies ✓ K417N attenuates affinity for ACE2 but compensated by N501Y mutation [49]
E484K, E484Q, and E484P	Receptor-Binding Domain	✓ Immune escape ✓ Loss of monoclonal antibody efficacy [52] ✓ Decreased sera neutralization [53]
L452R	Receptor-Binding Domain	✓ Increased transmissibility [54] ✓ Immune escape ✓ Loss of monoclonal antibody efficacy [52] ✓ Decreased sera neutralization [53]
S477G, S44N, and S477R	Receptor-Binding Domain	✓ Increased affinity for ACE2 receptor ✓ Result in escape from some monoclonal antibodies [55]
R246I/M	N-terminal domain (adjacent to the glycosylation sites)	✓ May aid in neutralizing antibody resistance [27]
69del and 70del	N-terminal domain	✓ Alter the conformation of an exposed NTD loop and thereby increase in infectivity [56] ✓ Decreased sera neutralization [57] ✓ S-gene target failure (SGTF) in multiplex RT-PCR tests [58]
S13I and W152C	N-terminal domain	✓ Escape from monoclonal antibodies against the N-terminus [59]
L18F	N-terminal domain	✓ Immune escape from neutralizing antibodies against the N-terminus [5]
141–143del	N-terminal domain	✓ Monoclonal Antibody escape [57]
144del	N-terminal domain	✓ Resistance to 4A8 monoclonal antibody [57]
D614G	Carboxy(C)-terminal region of the S1 domain	✓ Increased binding for ACE2 receptor [60] ✓ Modest infectivity increase
H655Y	Adjacent to the S1/S2 cleavage site	✓ mAb escape, linked to feline propagation [61]
P681H/R	Adjacent to the S1/S2 cleavage site	✓ May affect transmissibility ✓ Possible increased infection