Theta variant, also known as lineage P.3,[lower-alpha 1] is one of the variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The variant was first identified in the Philippines on February 18, 2021, when two mutations of concern were detected in Central Visayas.[1] It was detected in Japan on March 12, 2021, when a traveler from the Philippines arrived at Narita International Airport in Tokyo.[2]

It is distinct from those first discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil, and is thought to pose a similar threat. The variant is more resistant to neutralizing antibodies, including those gained through vaccination, like how the South African and Brazilian variants appear to be.[3]

Under the simplified naming scheme proposed by the World Health Organization, P.3 has been labeled Theta variant, and was considered a variant of interest (VOI), but not a variant of concern.[4]

As of July 2021, Theta is no longer considered as a variant of interest by the WHO.[4]

Classification

Naming

On March 17, 2021, Public Health England (PHE) named Lineage P.3 VUI-21MAR-02.[5]

On June 1, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) named lineage P.3 as Theta variant.[6]

Mutations

A total of 14 amino acid replacements were observed in all samples (labeled in red below), including seven spike protein mutations. Among the spike protein mutations, four have been previously associated with lineages of concern (i.e., E484K, N501Y, D614G, and P681H) while three additional replacements were observed towards the C-terminal region of the protein (i.e., E1092K, H1101Y, and V1176F). A single amino acid replacement at the N-terminus of ORF8 (i.e., K2Q) was also found in all samples. Three other mutations were seen in 32 of the 33 samples (labeled in green) including a three-amino acid deletion at the spike protein positions 141 to 143. Lastly, five synonymous mutations (labeled in gray) were also detected in all of the cases.[8]

Mutation profile of Theta Variant
Gene Amino acid
ORF1ab F924F
D1554G
S2433S
L3201P
D3681E
N3928N
L3930F
P4715L
A5692V
S LGV141_143del
E484K
N501Y
G593G
D614G
P681H
S875S
E1092K
H1101Y
V1176F
ORF8 K2Q
N R203K
G204R
Characteristic mutations of Theta Variant[9]
Gene Amino acid
ORF1a D1554G
S2625F
D2980N
L3201P
D3681E
L3930F
ORF1b P314L
L1203F
A1291V
S LGV141_143del
E484K
N501Y
G593G
D614G
P681H
S875S
E1092K
H1101Y
V1176F
ORF8 K2Q
N R203K
G204R

History

On February 18, 2021, the Department of Health of the Philippines confirmed the detection of two mutations of COVID-19 in Central Visayas after samples from patients were sent to undergo genome sequencing. The mutations were later named as E484K and N501Y, which were detected in 37 out of 50 samples, with both mutations co-occurrent in 29 out of these. There were no official names for the variants and the full sequence was yet to be identified.[1]

On March 12, 2021, Japan detected the variant on a traveler from the Philippines.[2]

On March 13, 2021, the Department of Health confirmed the mutations constituted a new variant, which was designated as lineage P.3. On the same day, it also confirmed its first case of lineage P.1 in the country. Although the lineages P.1 and P.3 stem from the same lineage B.1.1.28, the department said that the impact of lineage P.3 on vaccine efficacy and transmissibility is yet to be ascertained.[10]

On March 17, 2021, the United Kingdom confirmed its first two cases, where Public Health England (PHE) termed it VUI-21MAR-02.[11]

On April 30, 2021, Malaysia detected 8 cases of lineage P.3 in Sarawak.[12]

Statistics

Confirmed cases by country (as of January 24, 2022)
Country PANGOLIN[13] outbreak.info[9] Regeneron[14] Other sources
 Philippines 455 513 516 461[15]
 USA 17 20 17
 Germany 11 11 11
 Malaysia 10 10 10 13[16]
 United Kingdom 9 9 9 10[17]
 Japan 7 8 8
 Netherlands 7 7 7 4[18]
 Canada 5 5 5
 Australia 3 3 4
 Belgium 3 3 3
 China[lower-alpha 2] 3 14 14
 Guam 3 – 3
 New Zealand 3 3 3
 Norway 3 3 3
 Singapore 3 3 3
 Angola 2 2 2
 South Korea 2 2 2
 Sweden 2 2 2
 Brazil 1 1 1
 Finland 1 1 1
 Total 550 620 624 488

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Other names include:
    – VUI-21MAR-02
    – Lineage B.1.1.28.3
    – Philippine variant
  2. ↑ Cases in Hong Kong.

References

  1. 1 2 News, CNN Philippines (February 18, 2021). "DOH confirms new COVID-19 mutations in Central Visayas". Retrieved May 2, 2021. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. 1 2 News, Kyodo (March 12, 2021). "New coronavirus variant found in traveler from Philippines: Japan". Retrieved May 2, 2021. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ↑ News, Japan Times (March 12, 2021). "Japanese authorities discover a new coronavirus variant in traveler from Philippines". Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. 1 2 "Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants". who.int. World Health Organization.
  5. ↑ "Variants: distribution of cases data". gov.uk. Government Digital Service.
  6. ↑ "Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants". June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Spike Variants: Theta variant, aka B.1.128". covdb.stanford.edu. Stanford University Coronavirus Antiviral & Resistance Database. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  8. ↑ Center, Philippine Genome. "PGC SARS-CoV-2 Bulletin No. 7: Detection and characterization of a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage P.3, with spike protein mutations E484K, N501Y, P681H and LGV 141–143 deletion, from samples sequenced through the intensified UP-PGC, UP-NIH and DOH biosurveillance program". Philippine Genome Center.
  9. 1 2 "P.3 Lineage Report". outbreak.info.
  10. ↑ News, ABS-CBN (March 13, 2021). "DOH confirms new COVID-19 variant first detected in PH, first case of Brazil variant". Retrieved May 2, 2021. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ↑ News, Rappler (March 17, 2021). "England reports 2 cases of new COVID-19 variant found in Philippines". Retrieved May 2, 2021. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ↑ "Covid-19: Sarawak detects variant reported in the Philippines". April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  13. ↑ "PANGO lineages". cov-lineages.org. Archived from the original on 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  14. ↑ "Regeneron COVID-19 Dashboard". covid19dashboard.regeneron.com. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ Lopez, Virgil (September 29, 2021). "DOH detects additional 339 Delta variant cases". GMA News. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  16. ↑ Pei Pei, Goh (July 8, 2021). "Delta variant detected in Sarawak". Retrieved July 13, 2021. He said for the Theta variant, six cases had been detected in Kuching and seven in Kota Samarahan
  17. ↑ "Variants: distribution of case data, 13 August 2021". August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Variants in the Netherlands". rivm.nl. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
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