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

COG-UK Consortium; Volz, E; Hill, V; McCrone, JT; Price, A; Jorgensen, D; O'Toole, A; Southgate, J; Johnson, R; Jackson, B; Nascimento, FF; Rey, SM; Nicholls, SM; Colquhoun, RM; Filipe, AD; Shepherd, J; Pascall, DJ; Shah, R; Jesudason, N; Li, K; Jarrett, R; Pacchiarini, N; Bull, M; Geidelberg, L; Siveroni, I; Goodfellow, I; Loman, NJ; Pybus, OG; Robertson, DL; Thomson, EC; Rambaut, A; Connor, TR

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.

Citation

COG-UK Consortium, Volz, E., Hill, V., McCrone, J., Price, A., Jorgensen, D., …Connor, T. (2021). Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity. Cell, 184(1), 64-+. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.020

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 11, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 12, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 12, 2022
• Print ISSN: 0092-8674
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 184
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 64-+
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.020
• Keywords: RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS; ACTIVATION; APE
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1555268