SARS-CoV-2 variant with the spike protein mutation F306L in the southern border provinces of Thailand
Issued Date
2024-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20452322
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85189206268
Journal Title
Scientific Reports
Volume
14
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Scientific Reports Vol.14 No.1 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Sila T., Surasombatpattana S., Rajborirug S., Laochareonsuk W., Choochuen P., Kongkamol C., Ingviya T., Prompat N., Mahasirimongkol S., Sangkhathat S., Aiewsakun P. SARS-CoV-2 variant with the spike protein mutation F306L in the southern border provinces of Thailand. Scientific Reports Vol.14 No.1 (2024). doi:10.1038/s41598-024-56646-6 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/97908
Title
SARS-CoV-2 variant with the spike protein mutation F306L in the southern border provinces of Thailand
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The southernmost part of Thailand is a unique and culturally diverse region that has been greatly affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. To gain insights into this situation, we analyzed 1942 whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from the five southernmost provinces of Thailand between April 2021 and March 2022, together with those publicly available in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data database. Our analysis revealed evidence for transboundary transmissions of the virus in and out of the five southernmost provinces during the study period, from both domestic and international sources. The most prevalent viral variant in our sequence dataset was the Delta B.1.617.2.85 variant, also known as the Delta AY.85 variant, with many samples carrying a non-synonymous mutation F306L in their spike protein. Protein–protein docking and binding interface analyses suggested that the mutation may enhance the binding between the spike protein and host cell receptor protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and we found that the mutation was significantly associated with an increased fatality rate. This mutation has also been observed in other SARS-CoV-2 variants, suggesting that it is of particular interest and should be monitored.