Emerging Infectious Diseases (May 2021)

Introduction of ORF3a-Q57H SARS-CoV-2 Variant Causing Fourth Epidemic Wave of COVID-19, Hong Kong, China

  • Daniel K.W. Chu,
  • Kenrie P.Y. Hui,
  • Haogao Gu,
  • Ronald L.W. Ko,
  • Pavithra Krishnan,
  • Daisy Y.M. Ng,
  • Gigi Y.Z. Liu,
  • Carrie K.C. Wan,
  • Man-Chun Cheung,
  • Ka-Chun Ng,
  • John M. Nicholls,
  • Dominic N.C. Tsang,
  • Malik Peiris,
  • Michael C.W. Chan,
  • Leo L.M. Poon

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2705.210015
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 5
pp. 1492 – 1495

Abstract

Read online

We describe an introduction of clade GH severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causing a fourth wave of coronavirus disease in Hong Kong. The virus has an ORF3a-Q57H mutation, causing truncation of ORF3b. This virus evades induction of cytokine, chemokine, and interferon-stimulated gene expression in primary human respiratory cells.

Keywords