Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity.


Type
Article
Change log
Authors
Volz, Erik 
Hill, Verity 
McCrone, John T 
Price, Anna 
Jorgensen, David 
Abstract

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant.

Description
Keywords
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, epidemiology, evolution, founder effect, spike, Amino Acid Substitution, Aspartic Acid, COVID-19, Genome, Viral, Glycine, Humans, Mutation, SARS-CoV-2, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus, United Kingdom, Virulence, Whole Genome Sequencing
Journal Title
Cell
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0092-8674
1097-4172
Volume Title
184
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
MRC (MC_PC_19027)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_19027)