Double Mutant B.1.617 and The Surge.
                     Double Mutant B.1.617 
and The Surge
INTRODUCTION
• During a meeting with district laboratories in Maharashtra last week, the 
National Institute of Virology (NIV) shared limited data showing a break-up of 
361 genome-sequenced samples collected between January and March this 
year.
Source: indianexpress.com
What is the B.1.617?
• The B.1.617 variant of SARS-CoV-2 carries two mutations, E484Q and L452R. 
Both are separately found in many other coronavirus variants, but they have 
been reported together for the first time in India.
Source: indianexpress.com
Spike protein
• The two mutations are found in the virus’s spike protein. The spike protein 
helps the virus to bind itself to the human cell’s receptors and enter a host cell.
Source: indianexpress.com
Variants of the coronavirus
• The E484Q mutation is like E484K, a mutation found in the United Kingdom 
(lineage B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351) variants of the coronavirus.
Source: indianexpress.com
Where the B.1.617 been found?
• It was first reported from Maharashtra. In January, 19 samples from various 
districts were sequenced, and B.1.617 was found in four. 
• In February, 234 samples were sequenced from 18 districts, and 151 samples 
from at least 16 districts had this variant. 
Source: indianexpress.com
Evidence of the B.1.617
• So far, Amravati, Nagpur, Akola, Wardha, Pune, Thane, Aurangabad, and 
Chandrapur districts have presented strong evidence of the presence of 
B.1.617.
Source: indianexpress.com
Is this variant more virulent?
• There is no evidence so far. Most patients can do with home isolation, although 
clinical experience needs to be combined with genome sequencing data to 
generate scientific evidence. 
Source: indianexpress.com
Spreads faster
• Clinical anecdotes from doctors suggests the variant spreads faster, is more 
infectious, can infect entire families, but is less virulent and doesn’t cause 
dramatically more hospitalizations.
Source: indianexpress.com
How much has it spread?
• central government had reported in March that 15-20 per cent samples in 
Maharashtra had this variant; based on the latest sequencing data, we know 
that this number is now over 60 per cent.
Source: indianexpress.com
Can the variant evade vaccines?
• Some people have indeed been infected after the first dose, but there is no 
data on whether their samples were sent for genome sequencing.
• Doctors said that while vaccines are not expected to prevent infection, they 
certainly prevent severe disease and death. 
Source: indianexpress.com