Abstract Scientists and the public were alarmed at the first large viral variant of SARS‐CoV‐2 reported in December 2020. We have followed the time course of emerging viral mutants and variants during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic in ten countries on four continents. We examined > 383,500 complete SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleotide sequences in GISAID (Global Initiative of Sharing All Influenza Data) with sampling dates extending until April 05, 2021. These sequences originated from ten different countries: United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, United States, India, Russia, France, Spain, Germany, and China. Among the 77 to 100 novel mutations, some previously reported mutations waned and some of them increased in prevalence over time. VUI2012/01 (B.1.1.7) and 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), the so‐called UK and South Africa variants, respectively, and two variants from Brazil, 484K.V2, now called P.1 and P.2, increased in prevalence. Despite lockdowns, worldwide active replication in genetically and socio‐economically diverse populations facilitated selection of new mutations. The data on mutant and variant SARS‐CoV‐2 strains provided here comprise a global resource for easy access to the myriad mutations and variants detected to date globally. Rapidly evolving new variant and mutant strains might give rise to escape variants, capable of limiting the efficacy of vaccines, therapies, and diagnostic tests. This 2020/21 time course study shows the rapid rise of new SARS‐CoV‐2 mutants and variants across the entire genome during worldwide viral replication. In 10 countries, 40 to 65% of mutants were C to T transitions. Viral mutations will affect vaccination programs.
【저자키워드】 Microbiology, Virology & Host Pathogen Interaction, high incidence of C to T transitions, numerous new mutations, South African and Brazil variants, time course of SARS‐CoV‐2 mutant emergence, UK variant B.1.1.7, Chromatin, Epigenetics, Genomics & Functional Genomics, 【초록키워드】 Brazil, Efficacy, vaccination, pandemic, Mutation, Vaccines, B.1.351, Influenza, Genome, India, mutations, Russia, variant, variants, Population, SARS‐CoV‐2, Replication, Prevalence, China, South Africa, Viral, Germany, B.1.1.7, diagnostic tests, viral replication, 501Y.V2, P.1, Spain, France, P.2, mutants, mutant, United States, United Kingdom, resource, viral variant, Viral mutations, GISAID, Therapies, nucleotide, mutant strain, strain, lockdowns, sequence, scientist, nucleotide sequence, initiative, Affect, Complete, country, Course, examined, reported, provided, facilitated, waned, 【제목키워드】 Vaccine, therapy, Mutation, SARS‐CoV‐2, Replication, Viral,