Delta variant - A new phase of COVID-19 in India

International Journal of Medical Science

© 2021 by SSRG - IJMS Journal

Volume 8 Issue 7

Year of Publication : 2021

Authors : S.S.Sreenivas

10.14445/23939117/IJMS-V8I7P105

How to Cite?

S.S.Sreenivas, "Delta variant - A new phase of COVID-19 in India," SSRG International Journal of Medical Science, vol. 8,  no. 7, pp. 35-39, 2021. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939117/IJMS-V8I7P105

Abstract:

SARS-CoV-2 virus first reported from Wuhan City of Hubei Province of China became COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world. A variant of SARS-CoV-2 was noticed in India in late 2020, spread throughout India and other countries. The variant became dominant in India and the United Kingdom. The delta variant is now present in almost 100 countries. This variant of SARS-CoV-2 was assigned sub-lineage B.1.617.2 (Delta), of B.1.617. Variant Delta has around nine critical mutations with altered amino-acid sequences of the proteins it encodes and linked to increased ACE2 binding and enhanced escape from neutralizing antibodies. The global emergence of L452R independently in several lineages since November/December 2020 suggests a role in immune-evasion as an adaptation. Delta variant with an additional K417N mutation resulted in a new variant B.1.617.2.1 (Delta plus). The impact of mutation E484Q in Delta plus is similar to that of E484K, which was reported to diminish antibody binding, including those elicited by vaccination.

Keywords:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Delta variant, mutation, Delta plus

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