The Beta variant (B.1.351) was a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. One of several SARS-CoV-2 variants initially believed to be of particular importance, it was first detected in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in late October 2020, which was reported by the country's health department on 18 December 2020. Phylogeographic analysis suggests this variant emerged in the Nelson Mandela Bay area in July or August 2020.

The World Health Organization labelled the variant as Beta variant, not to replace the scientific name but as a name for the public to commonly refer to. The WHO considers it to be a variant of concern no longer in circulation.

Names The variant is also known as the South African variant.

Mutations

+ Gene Nucleotide Amino acid ORF1ab C1059T T265I G5230T K1655N C8660T H2799Y C8964T S2900L A10323G K3353R G13843T D4527Y C14408T1 P4715L C17999T T5912I Spike C21614T L18F A21801C D80A A22206G D215G G22299T R246I G22813T K417N G23012A E484K A23063T N501Y A23403G1 D614G G23664T A701V ORF3a G25563T Q57H C25904T S171L E C26456T P71L N C28887T T205I Footnote: 1Presented in parent lineage B.1.

Source: There are three mutations of particular interest in the spike region of the lineage B.1.351 genome: K417N E484K N501Y and a further five spike mutations which have so far generated less concern: L18F D80A D215G R246I A701V Away from the spike region, it also carries: K1655N, SGF 3675-3677 deletion, P71L, and T205I.

Scientists noted that the variant is able to attach more easily to human cells because of three mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) in the spike glycoprotein of the virus: N501Y (a change from asparagine (N) to tyrosine (Y)For a list of the symbols used for the α-amino acids incorporated into protein under mRNA direction, see: in amino-acid position 501), K417N, and E484K. Two of these mutations, E484K and N501Y, are within the receptor-binding motif (RBM) of the receptor-binding domain (RBD).

The N501Y mutation has also been detected in the United Kingdom. Two mutations found in the Beta variant, E484K and K417N, are not found in Alpha variant. Also, Beta does not have the 69-70del mutation found in the other variant.

Vaccine efficacy

On 4 January 2021, UK newspaper The Telegraph reported that Oxford immunologist Sir John Bell believed there was "a big question mark" over the new South African variant's potential resistance to COVID-19 vaccines, raising fears that vaccines might not work as effectively on that variant strain. The same day Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, commented to CBS News that "it's not a given" that the new Beta variant (501.V2 variant) would be able to evade the vaccines, but that it should be considered that they "might not have the full efficacy". The additional mutations to the spike protein in Beta were raised as a concerning factor by Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, in that they "may make the virus less susceptible to the immune response triggered by the vaccines". Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, also noted that the variant's multiple spike mutations "could lead to some escape from immune protection".

The E484K amino acid change, a receptor-binding-domain (RBD) mutation, was reported to be "associated with escape from neutralising antibodies" which could adversely affect the efficacy of spike protein-dependent COVID vaccines. The E484K spike mutation was linked to a case of reinfection with the Beta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil, believed by researchers to be the first such case of reinfection involving this mutation. The possibility of an alteration in antigenicity was referred to as an "escape mutation" from a monoclonal antibody with the capability of neutralizing the spike protein variants of SARS-CoV-2. This suggests that existing vaccines can and should be updated to counter the new strains without recourse to phased trials.

Janssen In January, Johnson & Johnson, which held trials for its Janssen (Ad26.COV2.S) vaccine in South Africa, reported the level of protection against moderate to severe COVID-19 infection was 72% in the United States, but 64% in South Africa.

Pfizer–BioNTech On 17 February 2021, Pfizer announced that neutralisation activity was reduced by two thirds for the Beta variant, whilst refraining from making claims about the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing illness as a result of this variant.

On 16 March 2021, The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (BNT162b2) for section 21 Emergency Use Authorisation.

On 1 April 2021, an update on a South African vaccine trial stated that the vaccine was 100% effective so far (i.e., vaccinated participants saw no cases), with six of nine infections in the placebo control group being the Beta variant (lineage B.1.351). However, nine days later, an Israeli study found that the variant was present even in people who had received both shots of the vaccine, its prevalence a disproportionate, eight-fold increase amongst vaccinated individuals in comparison to wild strains.

On 5 May 2021, a letter summarizing results from the Qatar National Study Group for COVID-19 Vaccination showed 75% effectiveness against infection, with zero cases of severe disease.

Oxford–AstraZeneca On 6 February 2021, The Financial Times reported that provisional trial data from a study undertaken by South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand in conjunction with Oxford University demonstrated reduced efficacy of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against the Beta variant. The study found that in a sample size of 2,000 the AZD1222 vaccine afforded only "minimal protection" in all but the most severe cases of COVID-19.

On 7 February 2021, the South African government suspended the planned deployment of around 1 million doses of the vaccine whilst they examined the data and awaited advice on how to proceed. The South African government subsequently cancelled the use of the vaccine, selling its supply to other African countries, and switched its vaccination program to use the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

In July 2021, following increased incidence of Beta in France, the United Kingdom - a major user of the AstraZeneca vaccine - placed additional restrictions on people travelling to the UK from France. However, the incidence in France is in its Indian Ocean territory of La Réunion, as pointed out by French politician and doctor Veronique Trillet-Lenoir.

Sinopharm BIBP Other African countries have begun the roll out the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine, with Morocco, Egypt, The Seychelles and Zimbabwe starting the mass rollout. So far, the vaccine has proven resistant to the Beta variant, as demonstrated in Zimbabwe. On 2 February 2021, a preprint paper announced that neutralisation activity was reduced by 1.6 fold for the Beta variant.

Moderna In February, Moderna reported that the current vaccine (mRNA-1273) produced only one sixth of the antibodies in response to the South African variant compared with the original virus. They have even launched a trial of a new vaccine to tackle the Beta variant.

Sputnik V The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has confirmed that it has received documentation for the vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Russia.

Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) is one of three COVID vaccines worldwide with an efficacy higher than 90% in symptomatic cases. It was found to be slightly less effective however it worked better than its rivals. A three fold reduction in VNA was found against the beta variant. A small study of 12 samples published in the nature communications journal showed that the neutralising antibody response was about 6.1 times less against the beta variant.

CoronaVac CoronaVac is yet to be approved for use by the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA). So far, Sinovac has offered to supply South Africa with 5 million doses of the vaccine.

Covaxin Covaxin has been found to be effective against the beta variant although with a three fold reduction in neutralization.

CoviVac The CoviVac vaccine Information has not been delivered to the South African government yet.

EpiVacCorona The EpiVacCorona vaccine Information has not been delivered to the South African government yet.

ZF2001 The ZF2001 vaccine Information is in the process of being delivered to the South African government.

Novavax A study on the NVX-CoV2373 Novavax vaccine showed 60% efficacy (for HIV-negative participants) in South Africa, compared to 90% efficacy in Britain.

ImmunityBio The BioVac Institute, a state-backed South African vaccine company, plans to use a deal it won to manufacture coronavirus vaccines. The contract with American based ImmunityBio Inc is currently conducting phase 1 vaccine trials with their hAd5 vaccine in the United States and South Africa.

ImmunityBio and BioVac plan to distribute the vaccines throughout South Africa and Africa.

Epidemiology Researchers and officials reported that the prevalence of the variant was higher among young people with no underlying health conditions, and more frequently causes serious illness in such cases than other variants. The South African health department also indicated that the variant may be driving the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, as the variant spreads faster than other earlier variants of the virus.

Statistics

+ Cases by country Country Confirmed cases (GISAID)as of 16 January 2024 Collection date40122 April 2021124 April 2021410 April 20217328 June 20212608 June 202119 April 20215616 June 20211,07514 June 2021111 February 202134227 June 202165 April 2021120 January 202129 June 2021131 May 202191 March 202188521 June 2021422 May 20211004 June 2021113 April 2021124 May 202116 March 2021417110 June 20213020 April 202112129 June 2021229 April 2021431 April 20213723 April 20212623 March 20211,12321 May 20212,14923 June 202127 April 2021421 February 2021123 May 20212,23119 June 2021178 April 20211929 April 2021425 May 2021328 April 202111 February 202120814 June 2021102 June 202123 April 2021126 February 20216919 April 202124028 May 2021691 June 20218913 June 2021218 April 202117831 May 2021121 June 2021913 May 20211418 January 2021119 April 202174422 May 202131216 April 202116110 June 202131 June 2021228 April 2021712 March 20213231 January 20212016 May 202132822 April 2021969327 May 20213125 June 2021110 March 202136211 June 2021355 June 2021212 January 20211,2138 April 2021457 June 2021992 June 202165018 May 202140019 June 2021726 May 20212312 June 20213915 June 2021315 April 202110025 June 2021124 March 20213127 May 2021316 April 202116,15421 June 20211917 April 2021324 April 202158818 June 2021426 March 2021531 March 20212,32217 June 202122522 June 20219526 April 20214025 May 202125 February 2021124 April 202191224 May 2021132 April 2021627 April 202188524 June 20212,99528 June 202116128 April 202133126 February 2021World (103 countries)Total: 28,380Total as of 21 July 2021

History A genomics team led by the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal discovered the new variant. It was uncovered by whole genome sequencing. Several genomic sequences from this lineage were submitted to the GISAID sequence database.