| Beta | |
 | |
| General details | |
|---|---|
| WHO Designation | Beta |
| Lineage | B.1.351 |
| First detected | Nelson Mandela Bay,South Africa |
| Date reported | July 2020; 4 years ago (2020-07) or August 2020; 4 years ago (2020-08) |
| Status | Variant of concern |
| Cases map | |
 Legend: 1,000+ confirmed sequences 250–999 confirmed sequences 100–249 confirmed sequences 10–99 confirmed sequences 2–9 confirmed sequences 1 confirmed sequence None or no data available | |
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TheBeta variant,[1][2] (B.1.351),[a] was[5][6] avariant ofSARS-CoV-2, the virus that causesCOVID-19. One of severalSARS-CoV-2 variants initially believed to be of particular importance, it was first detected in theNelson Mandela Bay[7] metropolitan area of theEastern Cape province ofSouth Africa in October 2020,[8] which was reported by the country'shealth department on 18 December 2020.[9]Phylogeographic analysis suggests this variant emerged in theNelson Mandela Bay area in July or August 2020.[10]
TheWorld Health Organization labelled the variant as Beta variant, not to replace the scientific name but as a name for the public to commonly refer to.[11][12] The WHO considers it to be avariant of concern no longer in circulation.[5]
The variant is also known as theSouth African variant.
![Amino acid mutations of SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant plotted on a genome map of SARS-CoV-2 with a focus on Spike.[13]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSARS-CoV-2_Beta_variant.svg)
| Gene | Nucleotide | Amino acid |
|---|---|---|
| ORF1ab | C1059T | T265I |
| G5230T | K1655N | |
| C8660T | H2799Y | |
| C8964T | S2900L | |
| A10323G | K3353R | |
| G13843T | D4527Y | |
| C14408T1 | P4715L | |
| C17999T | T5912I | |
| Spike | C21614T | L18F |
| A21801C | D80A | |
| A22206G | D215G | |
| G22299T | R246I | |
| G22813T | K417N | |
| G23012A | E484K | |
| A23063T | N501Y | |
| A23403G1 | D614G | |
| G23664T | A701V | |
| ORF3a | G25563T | Q57H |
| C25904T | S171L | |
| E | C26456T | P71L |
| N | C28887T | T205I |
Footnote:1Presented in parent lineage B.1. Source:Tegally et al. (2020), supplementary Fig S8 | ||
There are three mutations of particular interest in the spike region of the lineage B.1.351 genome:[14]
and a further five spike mutations which have so far generated less concern:[14]
Away from the spike region, it also carries: K1655N, SGF 3675-3677 deletion, P71L, and T205I.[15]
Scientists noted that the variant is able to attach more easily to human cells because of three mutations in thereceptor-binding domain (RBD) in thespike glycoprotein of the virus: N501Y[9][16] (a change fromasparagine (N) totyrosine (Y)[17] inamino-acid position 501), K417N, and E484K.[18][19] Two of these mutations, E484K and N501Y, are within the receptor-binding motif (RBM) of the receptor-binding domain (RBD).[20][21]
The N501Y mutation has also been detected in the United Kingdom.[9][22] Two mutations found in the Beta variant, E484K and K417N, are not found inAlpha variant. Also, Beta does not have the 69-70del mutation found in the other variant.[16][23]
On 4 January 2021, UK newspaperThe Telegraph reported that Oxford immunologistSir John Bell believed there was "a big question mark" over the new South African variant's potential resistance toCOVID-19 vaccines, raising fears that vaccines might not work as effectively on that variant strain.[24] The same dayShabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at theUniversity of the Witwatersrand, commented toCBS News that "it's not a given" that the new Beta variant (501.V2 variant) would be able to evade the vaccines, but that it should be considered that they "might not have the full efficacy".[25] The additional mutations to the spike protein in Beta were raised as a concerning factor by Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at theUniversity of Reading, in that they "may make the virus less susceptible to the immune response triggered by the vaccines".[26] Lawrence Young, a virologist atWarwick University, also noted that the variant's multiple spike mutations "could lead to some escape from immune protection".[26]
The E484K amino acid change, a receptor-binding-domain (RBD) mutation, was reported to be "associated with escape from neutralising antibodies" which could adversely affect the efficacy of spike protein-dependent COVID vaccines.[27][28] The E484K spike mutation was linked to a case of reinfection with the Beta variant ofSARS-CoV-2 in Brazil, believed by researchers to be the first such case of reinfection involving this mutation.[29] The possibility of an alteration in antigenicity was referred to as an "escape mutation" from a monoclonal antibody with the capability of neutralizing the spike protein variants of SARS-CoV-2.[30][31] This suggests that existing vaccines can and should be updated to counter the new strains without recourse to phased trials.
In January,Johnson & Johnson, which held trials for itsJanssen (Ad26.COV2.S) vaccine inSouth Africa, reported the level of protection against moderate to severe COVID-19 infection was 72% in the United States, but 64% inSouth Africa.[32][33]
On 17 February 2021,Pfizer announced that neutralisation activity was reduced by two thirds for the Beta variant, whilst refraining from making claims about the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing illness as a result of this variant.[34]
On 16 March 2021, The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approved thePfizer-BioNTech vaccine (BNT162b2) for section 21 Emergency Use Authorisation.[35]
On 1 April 2021, an update on a South African vaccine trial stated that the vaccine was 100% effective so far (i.e., vaccinated participants saw no cases), with six of nine infections in the placebo control group being the Beta variant (lineage B.1.351).[36] However, nine days later, an Israeli study found that the variant was present even in people who had received both shots of the vaccine, its prevalence a disproportionate, eight-fold increase amongst vaccinated individuals in comparison to wild strains.[37]
On 5 May 2021, a letter summarizing results from the Qatar National Study Group for COVID-19 Vaccination showed 75% effectiveness against infection, with zero cases of severe disease.[38]
On 6 February 2021,The Financial Times reported that provisional trial data from a study undertaken bySouth Africa'sUniversity of the Witwatersrand in conjunction withOxford University demonstrated reduced efficacy of theOxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against the Beta variant. The study found that in a sample size of 2,000 theAZD1222 vaccine afforded only "minimal protection" in all but the most severe cases ofCOVID-19.[39]
On 7 February 2021, theSouth African government suspended the planned deployment of around 1 million doses of the vaccine whilst they examined the data and awaited advice on how to proceed.[40] The South African government subsequently cancelled the use of the vaccine, selling its supply to other African countries, and switched its vaccination program to use theJanssen COVID-19 vaccine.[41][42]
In July 2021, following increased incidence of Beta in France, the United Kingdom - a major user of the AstraZeneca vaccine - placed additional restrictions on people travelling to the UK from France. However, the incidence in France is in its Indian Ocean territory ofLa Réunion,[43] as pointed out by French politician and doctorVeronique Trillet-Lenoir.[44]
OtherAfrican countries have begun the roll out theSinopharm BIBP vaccine, withMorocco,Egypt,The Seychelles andZimbabwe starting the mass rollout.[45] So far, the vaccine has proven resistant to the Beta variant, as demonstrated in Zimbabwe.[46] On 2 February 2021, a preprint paper announced that neutralisation activity was reduced by 1.6 fold for the Beta variant.[47]
In February,Moderna reported that the current vaccine (mRNA-1273) produced only one sixth of the antibodies in response to theSouth African variant compared with the original virus. They have even launched a trial of a new vaccine to tackle the Beta variant.[48]
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has confirmed that it has received documentation for the vaccine developed by theGamaleya Institute in Russia.[49]
Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) is one of threeCovid vaccines worldwide with an efficacy higher than 90% in symptomatic cases. It was found to be slightly less effective however it worked better than its rivals.[1] A three fold reduction in VNA was found against the beta variant.[2][3] A small study of 12 samples published in the nature communications journal showed that the neutralising antibody response was about 6.1 times less against the beta variant.[50]
CoronaVac is yet to be approved for use by the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA).[51] So far,Sinovac has offered to supplySouth Africa with 5 million doses of the vaccine.[52]
Covaxin has been found to be effective against the beta variant although with a three fold reduction in neutralization.
TheCoviVac vaccine Information has not been delivered to the South African government yet.[53]
TheEpiVacCorona vaccine Information has not been delivered to theSouth African government yet.[54]
TheZF2001 vaccine Information is in the process of being delivered to theSouth African government.[55]
A study on theNVX-CoV2373 Novavax vaccine showed 60% efficacy (for HIV-negative participants) inSouth Africa, compared to 90% efficacy inBritain.[56]
TheBioVac Institute, a state-backedSouth African vaccine company, plans to use a deal it won to manufacturecoronavirus vaccines. The contract withAmerican based ImmunityBio Inc is currently conducting phase 1 vaccine trials with theirhAd5 vaccine in the United States and South Africa.[57]
ImmunityBio andBioVac plan to distribute the vaccines throughoutSouth Africa and Africa.[58][59]
Researchers and officials reported that the prevalence of the variant was higher among young people with no underlying health conditions, and more frequently causes serious illness in such cases than other variants.[60][61] The South African health department also indicated that the variant may be driving the second wave of theCOVID-19 pandemic in the country, as the variant spreads faster than other earlier variants of the virus.[9][60]
| Country | Confirmed cases (GISAID)[1] as of 16 January 2024 | Collection date |
|---|---|---|
 Angola | 401 | 22 April 2021 |
 Argentina | 1 | 24 April 2021 |
 Aruba | 4 | 10 April 2021 |
 Australia | 73 | 28 June 2021 |
 Austria | 260 | 8 June 2021 |
 Bahrain | 1 | 9 April 2021 |
 Bangladesh | 56 | 16 June 2021 |
 Belgium | 1,075 | 14 June 2021 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 11 February 2021 |
 Botswana | 342 | 27 June 2021 |
 Brazil | 6 | 5 April 2021 |
 Brunei | 1 | 20 January 2021 |
 Bulgaria | 2 | 9 June 2021 |
 Cambodia | 1 | 31 May 2021 |
 Cameroon | 9 | 1 March 2021 |
 Canada | 885 | 21 June 2021 |
 Chile | 4 | 22 May 2021 |
 China | 100 | 4 June 2021 |
 Colombia | 1 | 13 April 2021 |
 Costa Rica | 12 | 4 May 2021 |
 Cote d'Ivoire | 1 | 6 March 2021 |
 Croatia | 41 | |
 Czech Republic | 71 | 10 June 2021 |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo | 30 | 20 April 2021 |
 Denmark | 121 | 29 June 2021 |
 Djibouti | 22 | 9 April 2021 |
 Equatorial Guinea | 43 | 1 April 2021 |
 Estonia | 37 | 23 April 2021 |
 Eswatini | 26 | 23 March 2021 |
 Finland | 1,123 | 21 May 2021 |
 France | 2,149 | 23 June 2021 |
| French Guiana | 2 | 7 April 2021 |
 Gabon | 4 | 21 February 2021 |
 Georgia | 1 | 23 May 2021 |
 Germany | 2,231 | 19 June 2021 |
 Ghana | 17 | 8 April 2021 |
 Greece | 19 | 29 April 2021 |
| Guadeloupe | 4 | 25 May 2021 |
 Guam | 3 | 28 April 2021 |
 Guinea Bissau | 1 | 1 February 2021 |
 India | 208 | 14 June 2021 |
 Indonesia | 10 | 2 June 2021 |
 Iran | 2 | 3 April 2021 |
 Iraq | 1 | 26 February 2021 |
 Ireland | 69 | 19 April 2021 |
 Israel | 240 | 28 May 2021 |
 Italy | 69 | 1 June 2021 |
 Japan | 89 | 13 June 2021 |
 Jordan | 2 | 18 April 2021 |
 Kenya | 178 | 31 May 2021 |
 Kuwait | 1 | 21 June 2021 |
 Latvia | 9 | 13 May 2021 |
 Lesotho | 14 | 18 January 2021 |
 Lithuania | 11 | 9 April 2021 |
 Luxembourg | 744 | 22 May 2021 |
 Malawi | 312 | 16 April 2021 |
 Malaysia | 161 | 10 June 2021 |
 Malta | 3 | 1 June 2021 |
 Martinique | 2 | 28 April 2021 |
 Mauritius | 7 | 12 March 2021 |
| Mayotte | 32 | 31 January 2021 |
 Mexico | 20 | 16 May 2021 |
 Mozambique | 328 | 22 April 2021 |
 Namibia | 9 | |
 Netherlands | 693 | 27 May 2021 |
 New Zealand | 31 | 25 June 2021 |
 North Macedonia | 1 | 10 March 2021 |
 Norway | 362 | 11 June 2021 |
 Pakistan | 35 | 5 June 2021 |
 Panama | 2 | 12 January 2021 |
 Philippines | 1,213 | 8 April 2021 |
 Poland | 45 | 7 June 2021 |
 Portugal | 99 | 2 June 2021 |
 Qatar | 650 | 18 May 2021 |
| Reunion | 400 | 19 June 2021 |
 Romania | 7 | 26 May 2021 |
 Russia | 23 | 12 June 2021 |
 Rwanda | 39 | 15 June 2021 |
 Saudi Arabia | 3 | 15 April 2021 |
 Singapore | 100 | 25 June 2021 |
 Sint Maarten | 1 | 24 March 2021 |
 Slovakia | 31 | 27 May 2021 |
 Slovenia | 31 | 6 April 2021 |
 Somalia | 1 | |
 South Africa | 6,154 | 21 June 2021 |
 South Korea | 19 | 17 April 2021 |
 South Sudan | 3 | 24 April 2021 |
 Spain | 588 | 18 June 2021 |
 Sri Lanka | 4 | 26 March 2021 |
 Suriname | 5 | 31 March 2021 |
 Sweden | 2,322 | 17 June 2021 |
 Switzerland | 225 | 22 June 2021 |
 Taiwan | 95 | 26 April 2021 |
 Thailand | 40 | 25 May 2021 |
 Togo | 2 | 5 February 2021 |
 Tunisia | 1 | 24 April 2021 |
 Turkey | 912 | 24 May 2021 |
 Uganda | 13 | 2 April 2021 |
 United Arab Emirates | 6 | 27 April 2021 |
 United Kingdom | 885 | 24 June 2021 |
 USA | 2,995 | 28 June 2021 |
 Zambia | 161 | 28 April 2021 |
 Zimbabwe | 331 | 26 February 2021 |
| World (103 countries) | Total:28,380 | Total as of 21 July 2021 |
A genomics team led by theKwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) at theUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal discovered the new variant.[62] It was uncovered bywhole genome sequencing. Several genomic sequences from this lineage were submitted to theGISAID sequence database.[63][better source needed]
On 23 December 2020, UK health ministerMatt Hancock announced that two people who had travelled fromSouth Africa to theUK were infected with the Beta variant (501.V2 variant).[23][64] On 28 December, the variant had been detected in two people inSwitzerland[65] and in one inFinland.[66] On 29 December, the strain had been detected in a visitor from South Africa toJapan,[67] and in one overseas traveller toQueensland,Australia.[68] On 30 December the variant was detected inZambia.[69] On 31 December, it was also detected inFrance, in a passenger returning from South Africa.[70] On 2 January 2021, the first case of this variant was detected inSouth Korea.[71]Austria reported their first case of this variant, along with four cases of theAlpha variant on 4 January.[72] TheRepublic of Botswana also detected their first case on 4 January.[73] ThePeople's Republic of China reported the first case of this variant in southernGuangdong province on 6 January.[74]
On 8 January 2021, theRepublic of Ireland reported the detection of 3 cases, all linked to travel from South Africa.[75] On the same day a case of reinfection with the new variant by a woman who had had COVID-19 was reported fromBrazil, the first such reinfection reported in the world.[29]Canada reported the first case of this variant inAlberta on 9 January,[76] andIsrael reported four cases, all of which were imported in people travelling from South Africa.[77]New Zealand reported the first case of this variant on 10 January.[78][79] On 12 January,Germany reported the detection of the mutation in six people from three different households.[80] The same day, it was reported that the United Kingdom had a total of 29 cases, two of which were previously reported.[81] The following day,Belgium reported the first case in a person fromWest Flanders with no travel history,[82] Israel reported four further cases,[83] andTaiwan reported the first case in aSwazi man in his 30s who had tested positive for COVID-19 on 1 January.[84]
On 14 January,Germany detected a further case[85] and the following day, Canada reported a second case of the mutation which was detected in the Canadian province ofBritish Columbia.[86] A further case was reported in Germany the same day.[87]Denmark andRéunion reported their first cases on 16 January as Israel discovered a further four cases.[88][89][90] On 17 January, Israel reported another four cases bringing their total number of cases of this variant to 20.[91] Two further cases were reported inThe Netherlands on 18 January bringing the country's total to three.[92]Ghana reported its first case of the variant on 19 January.[93] On 23 January,Panama detected its first case of the strain in a person from Zimbabwe, who had travelled from South Africa.[94] Also on 23 January,Belgium reported at least 15 cases of the variant in Ostend,[95] while 6 cases were confirmed in the Comoros.[96] On 26 January, the Republic of Ireland reported the detection of 6 further cases.[97] The United States reported its first cases of the variant on 28 January 2021, in the state ofSouth Carolina.[98] On 27 January, Israel reported 3 more cases which were the first cases of the variant from samples that were collected in the community randomly, without knowing the source of infection.[99] Preliminary data reported by Africa CDC on 29 January indicated that the variant had reachedGhana.[100] On 31 January, Israel reported its first case of reinfection with the new variant by a man who returned fromTurkey.[101]
On 1 February 2021, the United KingdomSecretary of State for Health and Social Care reported the random detection of 11 cases of the variant where there was no connection to international travel.[102] The same day, the Canadian province of Ontario reported the first case of the variant in thePeel Region, with a similar absence of travel history and no contact with anyone who had recently been abroad.[103] On 8 February, the Republic of Ireland reported the detection of 2 further cases.[104]
On 8 February 2021,Austria detected the greatest outbreak of Beta variant in Europe so far. A total of 293 confirmed cases and 200 suspected cases have been identified through sequencing, most of them will be confirmed in all probability. All of the cases were found in the Tirol region, where nearly 9% of the positive PCR tests were identified as the Beta variant by sequencing.[105] The active cases were estimated at around 140. After a week of public discussion and political pressure about a possible quarantine of Tirol, the government of Austria abstained from isolating the areas of concern, instead making a formal plea to reduce movement in and out of the region and go for testing after visiting Tirol.[106] Tirolean officials stated their intention to relax the lockdown rules in Tirol in keeping with the rest of Austria.[107]
On 22 February, the Israeli Health Ministry stated that the variant had been genetically sequenced in just under 1% of 3,000 community samples.[108] Later on, Israel reported a total of 444 cases of the variant, making it the highest infection rate in the world outside South Africa.[109] On 25 February, the Republic of Ireland reported the detection of 4 further cases.[110] By late February, Turkey had 49 cases of the Beta variant.[111]
On 3 March 2021, thePhilippines confirmed its first 6 new cases of the South African variant, with 3 patients fromPasay with no travel history, and 3 with travel histories fromQatar andUAE.[112] On 5 March 2021,Romania reported its first two cases of the South African variant, coming from two patients inBucharest andPitești.[113]
On 23 March 2021,Lithuania confirmed its first 2 new cases of the South African strain, 1 inKaunas county and 1 inVilnius. There are 10 more suspected cases of it. The infected people said, that they didn't travel anywhere.[114] On 26 March there were 3 more cases confirmed, which means that virus is successfully spreading inside.
On 1 April 2021,Malaysia detected its first cases of South African variant. The health ministry reported two cases believed to originate from the Jalan Lima cluster, involving an employee based at theKuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), with other reported cases sparsely detected withinSelangor.[115] As of 1 April, a total of nine cases involving the variant is reported.[116] By 2 May, a total of 48 cases has been detected in least 5 clusters and from contact tracing, of which 20 were found in two clusters inPerak andKelantan.[117]
On 12 April 2021 Turkey had 285 cases in 11 provinces.[118]
In March 2022, the World Health Organization listed theAlpha, Beta andGamma variants as previously circulating citing lack of any detected cases in the prior weeks and months.[119]
N501Y...has been found in other countries, including the United Kingdom
Spatiotemporal phylogeographic analysis suggests that the 501Y.V2 lineage emerged in early August (early July – end August 2020, 95% highest posterior density) in Nelson Mandela Bay.
I should note here that there's another strain in South Africa that is bringing on similar concerns. This one has eight mutations in the Spike protein, with three of them (K417N, E484K and N501Y) that may have some functional role.
The South African variant '501.V2' is characterised by N501Y, E484K and K417N mutations in the S protein – so it shares the N501Y mutation with the UK variant, but the other two mutations are not found in the UK variant. Similarly, the South African variant does not contain the 69-70del mutation that is found in the UK variant.
Chief among those is another receptor-binding-domain mutation, called E484K, that de Oliveira's team has identified in the 501Y.V2 variant.
South Africa will suspend use of the coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca after researchers found it provided "minimal protection" against mild to moderate coronavirus infections caused by the new variant first detected in that country.
Our clinicians have also warned us that things have changed and that younger, previously healthy people are now becoming very sick.
This variant was first observed in samples from October, and since then more than 300 cases with the 501.V2 variant have been confirmed by whole genome sequencing (WGS) in South Africa
...the new strain of the COVID-19 virus, known as 501V2 variant, has been detected in Botswana.
Mittlerweile gebe es sechs Virusnachweise bei sechs Personen aus drei Haushalten, teilte das Ministerium mit. (There are now six virus detections in six people from three households, the ministry said.)
Scientists are particularly concerned about the South African variant, named B1351... ...At least 29 cases in the UK and three in Ireland have been recorded.
There are 20 known cases of the variant in the country that resulted from seven chains of infection.
Verder zijn er inmiddels drie gevallen van de Zuid-Afrikaanse variant bekend, een andere besmettelijke mutatie van het coronavirus. (Furthermore, three cases of the South African variant, another contagious mutation of the coronavirus, are now known.)
Another 444 individuals have been found to be carrying the South African variant.
Another 444 individuals have been found to be carrying the South African variant.
