There are 244 new sequences in 501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7) from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain & USA, as well sequences as from Ecuador and Greece for the first time.
2/18
Greece has 3 new sequences in 501Y.V1 for the first time. They indicate 2 separate introductions.
Ecuador has 2 sequences for the first time. They also indicate 2 separate introductions.
3/18
The USA has 61 new sequences (orange), from Florida, Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, & New York.
A few of these represent separate introductions. Others form distinct clusters that may indicate ongoing local transmission.
4/18
Israel has 35 new sequences (orange). Some of these show separate introductions, but many link with older sequences, indicating ongoing local transmission.
5/18
The Netherlands has 34 new sequences (orange). A few of these represent separate introductions, but most form a large cluster with older sequences from the Netherlands, indicating ongoing local transmission.
6/18
Portugal has 31 new sequences (orange). Though hard to see in the zoomed-out view, most of these represent separate introductions. There is one case where 2 new seqs are identical to an older one, but this could be a common exposure source.
7/18
Denmark has 20 new sequences (orange). A few of these indicate separate introductions, but must cluster with older sequences in smaller groups or in the very large Danish group previously identified, indicating local transmission.
8/18
Norway has 14 new sequences (orange). Most indicate separate introductions, but a few are identical to or related to an older sequence, which may indicate local transmission.
9/18
Spain has 11 new sequences (orange). All of these indicate separate introductions, though some new sequences link together to form tight clusters. This could indicate local transmission or a common source.
10/18
New Zealand has 10 new sequences (orange). All represent separate introductions, though some new sequences are linked together.
11/18
Singapore has 6 new sequences (orange). Though hard to see in zoomed-out view, most of these indicate separate introductions.
12/18
Italy has 6 new sequences (orange). It's a bit hard to see in the zoomed-out view, but none of these link directly with older samples, indicating separate introductions - though 2 new seqs link together.
13/18
Germany has 4 new sequences (orange). Though hard to see in the zoomed-out view, these all represent separate introductions.
14/18
Australia also has 4 new sequences (orange), including the first from Western Australia. These indicate separate introductions, though 2 of the new sequences are identical (marked in red).
15/18
India has 2 new sequences (orange, one hidden behind the green - pic 1). One is a separate introduction, the other links with a previous sequence (pic 2).
Belgium has 1 new sequence, which links 1 mutation away from a previous sequence (pic 3).
16/18
There are 3 new non-South African sequences in 501Y.V2, from Germany for the first time. They are identical, which may indicate a common exposure.
17/18
The updated country plots will go up soon, and I'll add another thread later on S:E484 & the 'Ohio variants'.
18/18
The updated country plots are now up. As always, be careful interpreting plots as many countries are selectively sequencing S:N501 & S-drop outs (which often increases S:N439), so frequencies are often not representative!
Lots of tweets about this today!
Let's see what we can see in the focal S:E484 build!
Phylogenetics (what I do - making 'family trees' from virus genetics) can be very informative to see how different variants are spreading, and how cases link🙂
There are two variants circulating predominantly in Brazil:
- 20B/S.484K seems to be older & more widespread. It has (among others) a mutation at position 484
- 20J/501Y.V3 is smaller & detected recently. It has mutations at 501 *and* 484.
The variant predominantly in the UK (501Y.V1 / B.1.1.7) and the variant predominantly in South Africa (501Y.V2) also both have 501. 501Y.V2 *also* has the 484K mutation.
Why are there concerns about these mutations? You can read more at CoVariants.org!
There are two variants circulating in Brazil: 20J/501Y.V3, recently detected in Japan & prevalent in Manaus. And temporarily-labelled '20B/S.484K', a larger clade circulating more widely in Brazil.
They both carry the spike mutation 484K, though this arise separately.
2/11
S:E484K is also found in 501Y.V2 (primarily circulating in South Africa).
Why are we particularly concerned about S:E484K? You can read more at CoVariants.org, as discussed in a tweet from earlier this week:
Happy Tuesday! The latest focal S:N501 build is now updated with sequences from 11 Jan.
There are 101 new sequences in the 501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7 #b117) & 501Y.V2 variants.
Additionally, I'll include some updates on S:E484K in this thread.
There are 97 new non-UK sequences in 501Y.V1, including the first sequences in the cluster from Slovakia, Mexico, & Belgium, plus additional sequences from the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, Spain, Ireland, & Sweden.
2/20
Slovakia has 10 sequences that fall in 501Y.V1 for the first time. These are closely linked, & likely indicate a single introduction and ongoing transmission (remember: vertical distance is not meaningful on the same branch - position of the 2 English samples is arbitrary).
To add to the excitement of your Saturday evening, the focal S:N501 build is now updated with data from 8th Jan, including 48 new seqs in 501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7 #b117) & 501Y.V2.
There are 46 new non-UK sequences in 501Y.V1, from the Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, the USA, and Luxembourg.
And 2 new non-South African sequences in 501Y.V2, from Australia for the first time.
2/12
In 501Y.V1:
Ireland has 4 new sequences (orange). 2 sit separately but are identical, indicating an additional introduction. 2 link to a previous sequence (green), 1 mutation away each. This could indicate location transmission, unsampled diversity, or a common exposure.
I'm getting some questions about this, so here you go: We do not have sequence evidence of a new, more transmissible "US variant" - it seems to be a misinterpretation.
Still, more sequencing in the US (& globally) will help us better track existing & emerging #SARSCoV2 variants!
Importantly: you can have spikes & rises in #SARSCoV2 infections without needing a new variant. We can see this clearly in Europe in autumn: we have a good idea of the variants circulating & no new (or old) variant is responsible. It was likely weather-related.
Similarly, season & holiday related changes in travel & behaviour, changing restrictions/mandates, school & university terms, & 'restriction fatigue' - just to name a few - can play a role in #SARSCoV2 case numbers. We can't & shouldn't blame every rise on a new variant.
There are 22 new non-UK sequences in 501Y.V1, including for the first time from Luxembourg (3), & additional seqs from Singapore (1), Australia (4), France (12), & Switzerland (2).
2/14
First, Luxembourg has 3 sequences in 501Y.V1 for the first time. Each represents a separate introduction.