The N501Y Mutation Was Brought to the UK Last Summer

Health Secretary Matt Hancock initially informed the UK government that a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, VUI-202012/01, had been identified on December 14, 2020, reported the BMJ.

One of the most significant changes is an N501Y mutation in the spike protein that the coronavirus uses to bind to the human ACE2 receptor. Changes in this part of spike protein may, in theory, result in the virus becoming more infectious and spreading more easily between people.

“An examination of the global GISAID SARS-COV-2 sequence database shows that this N501Y mutation was actually circulating, sporadically, much earlier in the year outside the UK: in Australia in June-July, the USA in July and Brazil in April 2020. Whether or not these viruses were brought to the UK and Europe later by travelers or arose spontaneously in multiple locations around the world (in response to human host immune selection pressures) requires further investigation," stated Dr. Julian Tang.

Sharon Peacock, director of COG-UK, told the Science Media Centre briefing, “Mutations are expected and are a natural part of evolution. Many thousands of mutations have already arisen, and the vast majority have no effect on the virus but can be useful as a barcode to monitor outbreaks.”