PreprintCited by 2,557COVID-19 epidemiological studiesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchMathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models

Estimated transmissibility and impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England

Open access
Davies, Nicholas G., Abbott, Sam, Barnard, Rosanna C., Jarvis, Christopher I., Kucharski, Adam J., Munday, James D., Pearson, Carl A. B., Russell, Timothy W. +17 more·2020·Science

Preprint — published as 10.1126/science.abg3055 · Paper page

Abstract

A novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, VOC 202012/01 (lineage B.1.1.7), emerged in southeast England in November 2020 and is rapidly spreading towards fixation. Using a variety of statistical and dynamic modelling approaches, we estimate that this variant has a 43–90% (range of 95% credible intervals 38–130%) higher reproduction number than preexisting variants. A fitted two-strain dynamic transmission model shows that VOC 202012/01 will lead to large resurgences of COVID-19 cases. Without stringent control measures, including limited closure of educational institutions and a greatly accelerated vaccine roll-out, COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths across England in 2021 will exceed those in 2020. Concerningly, VOC 202012/01 has spread globally and exhibits a similar transmission increase (59–74%) in Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States.

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  • Mutations at K417, E484, and N501 often reduce their activity, and these antibodies select K417N, E484K, and N501Y in yeast and VSV S libraries.

    “They are frequently sensitive to mutation in these residues and select for K417N, E484K and N501Y mutations in SARS-CoV-2 S protein expression libraries in yeast and VSV 12,15,33.”
  • The panel also included circulating variant residues K417N, Y453F, S477R, N501Y, and D614G, some linked to rapidly rising case counts.

    “Additionally, K417N, Y453F, S477R, N501Y, and D614G represent circulating variants some of which have been associated with rapidly increasing case numbers14,15,19,33–35.”
  • Other groups have reported comparable findings with vaccinee and convalescent plasma across various pseudotype and authentic virus assays.

    “In addition, similar results have been reported by others using vaccinee and convalescent plasmas and a variety of different pseudotype and authentic virus assays15,31,45–49.”

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  1. S. Abbott, J. Hickson, H. S. Badr, S. Funk, P. Ellis, P. Monticone, J. D. Munday, J. Allen, C. A. B. Pearson, S. Meakin, EpiNow2, , doi:zenodo.3957489.

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Authors
Davies, N. G., Abbott, S., Barnard, R. C., Jarvis, C. I., Kucharski, A. J., Munday, J. D., Pearson, C. A. B., Russell, T. W., Tully, D. C., Washburne, A. D., Wenseleers, T., Gimma, A., Waites, W., Wong, K. L. M., van Zandvoort, K., Silverman, J. D., CMMID COVID-19 Working Group, The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium, Diaz-Ordaz, K., Keogh, R., Eggo, R. M., Funk, S., Jit, M., Atkins, K. E., & Edmunds, W. J.
Affiliations
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
Corresponding author
Davies, Nicholas G.
Venue
Science
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2020-12-26
Volume
372
Issue
6538
ISSN
0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3134208712
Cited by
2,557
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 54 · 2025: 90 · 2024: 184 · 2023: 323 · 2022: 839 · 2021: 1060 · 2020: 6
FWCI
233.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • medRxiv (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (acceptedVersion)
  • LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
  • Strathprints: The University of Strathclyde institutional repository (University of Strathclyde) (acceptedVersion)
  • Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo
Funders
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-016832, OPP1184344, INV-003174)
  • University of Kentucky
  • University of Bern
  • Wellcome Trust (206250, 210758/Z/18/Z, 206250/Z/17/Z, Z/17/Z, 221303/Z/20/Z, 221303, 210758, 218554/Z/19/Z)
  • UK Research and Innovation (ES/P010873/1, ES/P010873, MC_PC_19027)
  • Universitätsspital Basel
  • National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR200908, NIHR200929)
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research ((NIHR200929), MR/V027956/1, (NIHR200908), 16/137/109, 16/137/10)
  • Research Councils UK (MR/S003975/1, ES/P010873/1)
  • Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS-CSF4-Torok)
  • University of Warwick
  • European Commission (101003688, COVID-19, 19065)
  • Public Health England
  • CANDU Owners Group
  • Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
  • Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
  • Université de Sfax
  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (221303/Z/20/Z)
  • Medical Research Council (MR/S003975/1, 206250/Z/17/Z, MR/V027956/1, NIHR200908, COVID-19, MC_PC_19065)
  • Economic and Social Research Council (ES/P010873/1)
  • Statens Serum Institut
  • Research England
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM145449)
  • H2020 European Research Council (757688)
  • Health Data Research UK
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Modeling and Simulation › COVID-19 epidemiological studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.7 variant, reproduction number, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, epidemic forecasting, COVID-19 containment measures, vaccine rollout, school closures, England
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Vaccines, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Child, Preschool, Communicable Disease Control, England, Europe, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Theoretical, Mutation, Severity of Illness Index, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Viral Load, Basic Reproduction Number, Young Adult

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