Main description:

This book reviews the current knowledge of the globally circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, highlights their distinct genetic characteristics and associated conformational changes in the viral spike protein, and profoundly discusses the mechanisms of convergent evolution that led to the rise of these mutated strains at different geographic regions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the book explores how these variants do and may impact the efficacy of established neutralizing antibody-based (nAb) vaccines and therapeutics by analysing latest in vivo and in vitro clinical data. Finally, the author discusses ways on how nAb Covid-19 treatment derived immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 could be minimized in the future.

Contents:

Why the Spike protein is relevant for COVID19 therapeutics Whole genome mutation rates

Phylogenetic systems

Mechanism of immune escape: single nucleotide mutations, insertion/deletions, and recombination. Spike protein mutations detected in currently circulating strains.

SARS-CoV-2 variants

B.1.1.298

B.1.1.7 (alpha)

B.1.351 (beta)

B.1.1.28- and B.1.1.33-derived Brazilian variants (including gamma and zeta)

B.1.525 (eta)

B.1.526 (iota)

B.1.427/B.1.429 (epsilon)

B.1.617-derived variants (including kappa and delta)

B.1.617.1

Delta VOC

C.37 (lambda)

P.3 (theta)

Other variants under monitoring (VUM)

Which strain will finally become dominant?

SARS-CoV-2 variants characterization

Predicting the functional consequences of mutations

Efficacy of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Selective pressures exerted by antibody-based therapeutics