|
|||||
|
|
Introduction of ORF3a-Q57H SARS-CoV-2 Variant Causing Fourth Epidemic Wave of COVID-19, Hong Kong,China |
|
| Authors: | Daniel K.W. Chu Kenrie P.Y. Hui Haogao Gu Ronald L.W. Ko Pavithra Krishnan Daisy Y.M. Ng Gigi Y.Z. Liu Carrie K.C. Wan Man-Chun Cheung Ka-Chun Ng John M. Nicholls Dominic N.C. Tsang Malik Peiris Michael C.W. Chan Leo L.M. Poon |
| Affiliation: | The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (D.K.W. Chu, K.P.Y. Hui, H. Gu, R.L.W. Ko, P. Krishnan, D.Y.M. Ng, G.Y.Z. Liu, C.K.C. Wan, M.-C. Cheung, K.-C. Ng, J.M. Nicholls, M. Peiris, M.C.W. Chan, L.L.M. Poon);Department of Health, Hong Kong (D.N.C. Tsang) |
| Abstract: | We describe an introduction of clade GH severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causing a fourth wave of coronavirus disease in Hong Kong. The virus has an ORF3a-Q57H mutation, causing truncation of ORF3b. This virus evades induction of cytokine, chemokine, and interferon-stimulated gene expression in primary human respiratory cells. |
| Keywords: | respiratory infections severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARS-CoV-2 SARS COVID-19 coronavirus disease zoonoses viruses coronavirus Hong Kong China |