Japan: “Domestic diffusion of strains carrying the Spike protein E484K mutation (Pangolin B.1.1.316)
E484K COVID-19 genome surveillance * 3. mutation to the same Spike protein as the mutant strains (N501Y.V2 and N501Y.V3) reported in South Africa and Brazil from the beginning of December 2020 onwards in the national survey of B.1.1.316 strain (2 cases of airport quarantine, 91 cases throughout Kanto area) was detected (as of 02/02/2021).
The B.1.1.316 strain does not have the N501Y mutation, which is a mutation that may increase infectivity and transmission, and it is presumed that the phenotype is different from that of the mutant strain having the N501Y mutation. According to genome network diagram the evaluation of the , this B.1.1.316 is not at least the genealogy of the current two mainstream strains in Japan, but a 13-base mutation (approximately 7) from the European strain (B.1.1.114) from March to April 2020. There was a time difference of months).
The sample that fills the blank link of this 13-base mutation in the domestic sample has not been specified, and it was judged that the genealogy did not acquire the mutation in Japan. In addition, a search for all GISAID registered genomic information has not identified the country of origin indicating the origin of this influx B.1.1.316 strain (that is, the region such as the United Kingdom cannot be determined). On the other hand, no strains that have acquired the E484K mutation from two mainstream strains in Japan (B.1.1.284 and B.1.1.214) have been detected so far.
