TY - JOUR
AU - Holtz, Andrew
AU - Van Weyenbergh, Johan
AU - Hong, Samuel L.
AU - Cuypers, Lize
AU - O'Toole, Áine Niamh
AU - Dudas, Gytis
AU - Gerdol, Marco
AU - Potter, Barney I.
AU - Ntoumi, Francine
AU - Mapanguy, Claujens Chastel Mfoutou
AU - Vanmechelen, Bert
AU - Wawina-Bokalanga, Tony
AU - Van Holm, Bram
AU - Menezes, Soraya Maria
AU - Soubotko, Katja
AU - Van Pottelbergh, Gijs
AU - Wollants, Elke
AU - Vermeersch, Pieter
AU - Jacob, Ann-Sophie
AU - Maes, Brigitte
AU - Obbels, Dagmar
AU - Matheeussen, Veerle
AU - Martens, Geert
AU - Gras, Jérémie
AU - Verhasselt, Bruno
AU - Laffut, Wim
AU - Vael, Carl
AU - Goegebuer, Truus
AU - van der Kant, Rob
AU - Rousseau, Frederic
AU - Schymkowitz, Joost
AU - Serrano, Luis
AU - Delgado, Javier
AU - Wenseleers, Tom
AU - Bours, Vincent
AU - André, Emmanuel
AU - Suchard, Marc A.
AU - Rambaut, Andrew
AU - Dellicour, Simon
AU - Maes, Piet
AU - Durkin, Keith
AU - Baele, Guy
PY - 2024
DA - October
TI - Emergence of the B.1.214.2 SARS-CoV-2 lineage with an Omicron-like spike insertion and a unique upper airway immune signature
JO - BMC Infectious Diseases
VL - 24
DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09967-w
AB - We investigate the emergence, mutation profile, and dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.214.2, first identified in Belgium in January 2021. This variant, featuring a 3-amino acid insertion in the spike protein similar to the Omicron variant, was speculated to enhance transmissibility or immune evasion. Initially detected in international travelers, it substantially transmitted in Central Africa, Belgium, Switzerland, and France, peaking in April 2021. Our travel-aware phylogeographic analysis, incorporating travel history, estimated the origin to the Republic of the Congo, with primary European entry through France and Belgium, and multiple smaller introductions during the epidemic. We correlate its spread with human travel patterns and air passenger data. Further, upon reviewing national reports of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in Belgian nursing homes, we found this strain caused moderately severe outcomes (8.7% case fatality ratio). A distinct nasopharyngeal immune response was observed in elderly patients, characterized by 80% unique signatures, higher B- and T-cell activation, increased type I IFN signaling, and reduced NK, Th17, and complement system activation, compared to similar outbreaks. This unique immune response may explain the variant's epidemiological behavior and underscores the need for nasal vaccine strategies against emerging variants.
PB - Springer Nature
UR - https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/1d061e9e-b0eb-4a7d-82b6-0052b8ea0200
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
ER