March 25, 2021

Genomic Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection Involving E484K Spike Mutation, Brazil

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Vaccines and Immunity

Keywords (Tags): immunity, reinfection, variants

• SARS-CoV-2 reinfection with a variant harboring the E484K mutation (occurring in the P.2 variant) was confirmed by genome sequencing in a case study in Brazil. The primary infection occurred in May 2020 by a widely circulating variant B.1.1.33 without the E484K mutation, while the reinfection occurred 147 days later in October 2020. Findings from this case study corroborate experimental studies suggesting that variants containing the E484K mutation have the potential to escape neutralizing antibodies.

Nonaka et al. (Feb 19, 2021). Genomic Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection Involving E484K Spike Mutation, Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/5/21-0191_article