Appropriate names for COVID-19 variants – Science Magazine

Multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are now circulating globally. Those with mutations in functional domains such as the receptor binding domain of the spike protein are of particular concern (1). In December 2020, three new variants of concern (VOC) with a common mutation at position 501 in the spike protein were reported: VOC-202012/01 (B.1.1.7, 501Y.V1, 20I) (2) was first identified in the United Kingdom, 501Y.V2 (B.1.351, 20H) (1) was first described…

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