Mutations Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern, Benin, Early 2021

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 27; no. 11; pp. 2889 - 2903
• Main Authors: Sander, Anna-Lena, Yadouleton, Anges, de Oliveira Filho, Edmilson F, Tchibozo, Carine, Hounkanrin, Gildas, Badou, Yvette, Adewumi, Praise, René, Keke K, Ange, Dossou, Sourakatou, Salifou, Sedjro, Eclou, Aïssi, Melchior A J, Fidelia, Hinson, Djingarey, Mamoudou Harouna, Nagel, Michael, Jo, Wendy Karen, Moreira-Soto, Andres, Drosten, Christian, Landt, Olfert, Corman, Victor Max, Hounkpatin, Benjamin, Drexler, Jan Felix
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01-11-2021; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Antibodies; Benin; Benin - epidemiology; Causes of; coronavirus disease; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Disease transmission; Dispatch; Epidemics; Gene mutations; Genomes; Humans; Infections; Laboratories; Mutation; Mutations Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern, Benin, Early 2021; Proteins; respiratory infections; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Virus research; viruses; Benin; West Africa; Europe; Africa; COVID-19; Benin; SARS-CoV-2; viruses; mutations; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; West Africa; variant of concern; zoonoses; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2711.211353

Intense transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Africa might promote emergence of variants. We describe 10 SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Benin during early 2021 that harbored mutations associated with variants of concern. Benin-derived SARS-CoV-2 strains were more efficiently neutralized by antibodies derived from vaccinees than patients, warranting accelerated vaccination in Africa.