SARS-CoV-2 variants with T135I nucleocapsid mutations may affect antigen test performance.

ABSTRACT: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic. Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 has continuously been challenged due to several variants with diverse spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) protein mutations []. SARS-CoV-2 variant proliferation potentially affects N protein-targeted rapid antigen testing. In this study, rapid antigen and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) tests were performed simultaneously in patients with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Direct whole genome sequencing was performed to determine the N protein variations, and the viral assemblies were uploaded to GISAID. The genomes were then compared with those of global virus strains from GISAID. These isolates belonged to the B.1.1.7 variant, exhibiting several amino acid subst

SUBMITTER: Jian MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8572148 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature