Acquisition of the L452R mutation in the ACE2-binding interface of Spike protein triggers recent massive expansion of SARS-Cov-2 variants
V. Tchesnokova, H. Kulakesara, L. Larson, V. Bowers, E. Rechkina, D. Kisiela, Y. Sledneva, D. Choudhury, I. Maslova, K. Deng, K. Kutumbaka, H. Geng, C. Fowler, J. D. Ralston, D. Greene, , E. V. Sokurenko
The paper identifies the L452R mutation in the Spike protein as a key driver of recent SARS-CoV-2 variant expansion, particularly in California, and suggests its adaptive significance for viral infectivity and antibody escape.
bioRxiv · Feb 22, 2021Microbiology