Quantitative measurement of infectious virus in SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta and Epsilon variants reveals higher infectivity (viral titer:RNA ratio) in clinical samples containing the Delta and Epsilon variants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VoC) pose a challenge to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies indicate that clinical samples collected from individuals infected with the Delta variant may contain higher levels of RNA than previous variants, but the relationship between viral RNA and infectious virus for individual variants is unknown.

Methods

We measured infectious viral titer (using a micro-focus forming assay) as well as total and subgenomic viral RNA levels (using RT-PCR) in a set of 165 clinical samples containing SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta and Epsilon variants that were processed within two days of collection from the patient.

Results

We observed a high degree of variation in the relationship between viral titers and RNA levels. Despi

SUBMITTER: Despres HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8475961 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature