Module 1.4 – Emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2

Overview: This module introduces basic concepts relevant to the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and the role of sequencing in their detection and definition.

Posted: 02/24/21

Presenter: Michael Weigand, PhD (view bio​)
Bioinformatician, CDC

Download Presentation Slides pdf icon[PDF – 975 KB]

Further Reading:

1. About variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.
   CDC.
2. Genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 variants.
   CDC.
3. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants (WHO).external icon
4. The coronavirus is evolving before our eyes.external icon
   Hamblin. The Atlantic, 2021.
5. Coronavirus variants and mutations.external icon
   Corum and Zimmer. New York Times, 2021.
6. Genetic Variants of SARS-CoV-2—What Do They Mean?external icon
   Lauring and Hodcroft. JAMA, 2021.

Additional Resources:

1. CoVariants.org.external icon
2. SARS-CoV-2 mutation situation reports. Scripps Research.external icon
3. Pango Network.external icon
4. PANGO lineage global reports.external icon
5. Pangolin COVID-19 lineage assigner. COG-UK.external icon
6. Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.external icon
   Hodcroft, et al. Nature, 2020.
7. Early introductions and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 in the United States.external icon
   Alpert, et al. Cell, 2021.
8. Linked Clusters of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.351 — Maryland, January–February 2021.
9. Emergence of a SARS-CoV-2 E484K variant of interest in Arizona.external icon
   Skidmore, et al. medRxiv, 2021.
10. Emergence of genomic diversity and recurrent mutations in SARS-CoV-2.external icon
    van Dorp, et al. Infect Genet Evol, Sept 2020.