Summary Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant. Graphical Abstract Highlights • Increasing frequency of SARS-CoV-2 D614G is consistent with a selective advantage • Phylodynamic analyses do not show significantly different growth of D614G clusters • There is no association of D614G replacement with greater severity of infection • The D614G replacement is associated with higher viral loads and younger patient age Analysis of the spread and frequency of SARS-CoV-2 D614G in the United Kingdom suggests a selective advantage for this strain that is associated with higher viral loads in younger patients but not higher COVID-19 clinical severity or mortality.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Evolution, SARS-CoV-2, spike, Epidemiology, founder effect, 【초록키워드】 Mortality, Positive selection, variant, variants, Population, Spike protein, Spread, Viral, Viral load, Patient, Cluster, D614G, age, dataset, United Kingdom, patients, association, Clinical severity, Hypothesis, Frequency, Analysis, COVID-19 mortality, dispersal, patient age, significant differences, growth, younger patients, SARS-CoV-2 sequences, Severity of infection, random, selective, whole genome, genetic analysis, Population genetic analysis, SARS-CoV-2 D614G, approach, greater, significantly, indicate, Increasing, Significant, increases in, phylogenetic cluster, the SARS-CoV-2, younger patient, 【제목키워드】 mutation D614G, Effect, Evaluating,