SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 The term<unk>  (VOC) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19) is a category used for<unk> s of the virus where mutations in their spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) substantially increase binding affinity (e.g., N501Y) in RBD-hACE2 complex (genetic data), while also being linked to rapid spread in human populations (epidemiological data). Before this, an emerging<unk>  may have been labeled a<unk>  of interest". During or after fuller assessment as a<unk> " the<unk>  is typically assigned to a lineage in the PANGOLIN nomenclature system and to clades in the Nextstrain and GISAID systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been observed to mutate, with certain combinations of specific point mutations proving to be more<unk> ing than others. This was principally for reasons of transmissibility and virulence, and also with regard to the possible emergence of escape mutations.
Variant of concern
Place of safety
Candidate of Medicine
Patient under investigation
Diagnostic greed
Component causes
Guaranteed issue
Learned intermediary