SARS-CoV2 spike protein gene variants with N501T and G142D mutation–dominated infections in mink in the United States. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cai, Hugh Y.; Cai, Allison
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation. Volume 33:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 939
• Page End: 942
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- mink -- N501T -- N501Y -- SARS-CoV2 -- spike protein -- variant; Veterinary medicine -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; 636.0896075
• DOI: 10.1177/10406387211023481
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-6387

Abstract

Large numbers of mink have been infected with SARS-CoV2 containing the spike protein Y453F mutation in Europe, causing zoonosis concerns. To evaluate the genetic characteristics of the U.S. and Canadian mink–derived SARS-CoV2 sequences, we analyzed all animal-derived (977) and all Canadian (19, 529) and U.S. (173, 277) SARS-CoV2 sequences deposited in GISAID from December 2019 to March 12, 2021, and identified 2 dominant novel variants, the N501T-G142D variant and N501T-G142D-F486L variant, in the U.S. mink–derived SARS-CoV2 sequences. These variants were not found in mink from Canada or other countries. The Y453F mutation was not identified in the mink-derived sequences in the United States and Canada. The N501T mutation occurred 2 mo earlier in humans than in mink in the United States, and the novel N501T-G142D and N501T-G142D-F486L variants were found in humans prior to mink. Our results suggest that the novel SARS-CoV2 variants may have evolved during human infection and were then transmitted to mink populations in the United States.