PreprintCited by 47SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesSARS-CoV-2 detection and testing

Genome sequencing and analysis of an emergent SARS-CoV-2 variant characterized by multiple spike protein mutations detected from the Central Visayas Region of the Philippines

Open access
Tablizo, Francis A., Kim, Kenneth M., Lapid, Carlo M., Castro, Marc Jerrone R., Yangzon, Maria Sofia L., Maralit, Benedict A., Ayes, Marc Edsel C., Cutiongco-de la Paz, Eva Maria +24 more·2021·medRxiv

Abstract

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern such as the B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and the P.1 have prompted calls for governments worldwide to increase their genomic biosurveillance efforts. Globally, quarantine and outbreak management measures have been implemented to stem the introduction of these variants and to monitor any emerging variants of potential clinical significance domestically. Here, we describe the emergence of a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage, mainly from the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. This emergent variant is characterized by 13 lineage-defining mutations, including the co-occurrence of the E484K, N501Y, and P681H mutations at the spike protein region, as well as three additional radical amino acid replacements towards the C-terminal end of the said protein. A three-amino acid deletion at positions 141 to 143 (LGV141_143del) in the spike protein was likewise seen in a region preceding the 144Y deletion found in the B.1.1.7 variant. A single amino acid replacement, K2Q, at the N-terminus of ORF8 was also shared by all 33 samples sequenced. The mutation profile of this new virus variant warrants closer investigation due to its potential public health implications. The current distribution of this emergent variant in the Philippines and its transmission are being monitored and addressed by relevant public health agencies to stem its spread in nearby islands and regions in the country.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1101/2021.03.03.21252812

Cites

22 of 22 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The Theta variant was first reported in March 2021 in the Philippines and contains 13 lineage-defining mutations including N501Y, E484K, P681H and the NTD deletion at positions 141-143.

    “The Theta variant was first reported in March 2021 in the Philippines.It contains 13 lineage-defining mutations including N501Y, E484K, P681H and the NTD deletion at positions 141-143 (refs 155,156 ).”

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Tablizo, F. A., Kim, K. M., Lapid, C. M., Castro, M. J. R., Yangzon, M. S. L., Maralit, B. A., Ayes, M. E. C., Cutiongco-de la Paz, E. M., De Guzman, A. R., Yap, J. M. C., Llames, J.-H. S., Araiza, S. M. M., Punayan, K. P., Asin, I. C. A., Tambaoan, C. F. B., Chong, A. L. U., Padilla, K. S. A. R., Cruz, R. P. S., Morado, E. K. D., Dizon, J. G. A., Hao, R. N. M., Zamora, A. A., Pacial, D. R., Magalang, J. A. R., Alejandria, M., Carlos, C., Ong-Lim, A., Salvaña, E. M., Wong, J. Q., Montoya, J. C., Singh-Vergeire, M. R., & Saloma, C. P.
Affiliations
  • University of the Philippines System (PH)
  • Department of Health (PH)
Corresponding author
Saloma, Cynthia P.
Venue
medRxiv
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2021-03-05
OpenAlex
W3134822027
Cited by
46
References
19
Citations by year
2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 1
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
medRxiv (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, spike protein mutations, E484K, N501Y, genomic surveillance, Central Visayas, public health response

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review