Rapid Increase of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7 Detected in Sewage Samples from England between October 2020 and January 2021.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 variants with multiple amino acid mutations in the spike protein are emerging in different parts of the world, raising concerns regarding their possible impact on human immune response and vaccine efficacy against the virus. Recently, a variant named lineage B.1.1.7 was detected and shown to be rapidly spreading across the UK since November 2020. As surveillance for these SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) becomes critical, we have investigated the use of environmental surveillance (ES) for the rapid detection and quantification of B.1.1.7 viruses in sewage as a way of monitoring its expansion that is independent on the investigation of identified clinical cases. Next-generation sequencing analysis of amplicons synthesized from sewage concentrates revealed the presence of B.1

SUBMITTER: Wilton T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8269227 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature