The impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa

Newly emerging variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have contributed to successive waves of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With several of these variants possessing immune evasion capabilities, they also pose a formidable threat to the success of the COVID-19 vaccines in achieving herd immunity.

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server explores the role of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in sustaining the pandemic in South Africa. Further, the researchers of this study found that these variants increased disease severity and viral transmissibility in the country, thus increasing the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19.

Study: The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages (Variants) on the COVID-19 Epidemic in South Africa. Image Credit: Quatrox Production / Shutterstock.com

Background

As of October 31, 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 5 million deaths worldwide, among more than 247 million infections. While national and state governments have imposed local restrictions on the movement of people, combined with closing down businesses, schools, leisure activities, and travel hubs, these measures have had a significant adverse impact on the global economy.

In response, vaccine development efforts gained momentum, culminating in the rollout of several vaccines at the end of 2020. However, low- and middle-income countries are still far behind in terms of their vaccine coverage, leaving a large population vulnerable to the virus.

New SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) have further exacerbated this situation, leading to further spread of the virus even among immune populations. The SARS-CoV-2 genome is a single strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA) with numerous spike glycoproteins on the envelope. The genome codes for multiple structural, non-structural, and accessory proteins.

The two main transcription units are the open reading frames (ORFs) 1a and 1b, which give rise to polyproteins PP1a and PP1b, respectively. PP1a transcribes four main structural proteins and 16 non-structural proteins (Nsp1-Nsp16) that are involved in viral replication, proofreading, translation, suppression of host translation, immune evasion, and stabilization.

Another third of the genome encodes structural and accessory proteins. The latter is required for proper genome-host interaction and inhibiting cytokine production, among other functions.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is involved in viral binding and entry into the host cell. The spike undergoes cleavage at a unique furin-like cleavage site (FCS) to form the S1 and S2 subunits.

The S1 subunit has a receptor-binding domain (RBD) and an N-terminal domain (NTD). The RBD mediates the attachment of the spike protein to the host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor.

The S2 subunit is responsible for virus-cell membrane fusion. Following S1-receptor binding, the S2 subunit is primed through host transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), allowing for the conformation switch that mediates viral cell entry and replication endocytosis.

Numerous mutations have been reported in the viral genome. The wild-type strain is considered to be very similar to the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain. With over 200,000 genomes having been uploaded to the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database, an algorithm was designed early on to map links between genomes. This is called Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak LINeages (PANGOLIN).

Two sublineages, A and B, were identified, with main lineages C and D being reassigned to lineage B. Over 266 lineages have so far been identified, with lineage B and sublineage B.1 being dominant worldwide.

Up to February 2020, mutations were rare, but thereafter, the virus spread rapidly, showing multiple mutations, despite its proofreading capabilities. The finding that groups of mutations define different strains led to the differentiation of newer variants into variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs).

VOCs may either show increased transmissibility, cause more severe disease as shown by increased hospitalizations and deaths, or show resistance to antibodies elicited by previous infection or vaccination, thus impacting vaccine efficacy (VE). SARS-CoV-2 VOCs comprise the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351, B1.351.2, B.1.351.3), Gamma (P.1, P.1.1, P.1.2, P.1.4, P1.6, P.1.7), and Delta (B.1.617.2, AY.1, AY.2, AY.3, AY.3.1) lineages.

VOIs show genetic markers that alter viral characteristics like the above, and may therefore pose a threat to global health. Known SARs-CoV-2 VOIs include the Eta (B.1.525), Iota (B.1.526), Kappa (B.1.617.1), and Lambda (C.37) lineages.

The current study focused on the effect of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in South Africa. The first COVID-19 case in this country was on March 5, 2020, followed by three waves. These occurred between March 5 to September 30, 2020; December 1, 2020, peaking on January 15, 2021; and April 27 to the end of September 2021, respectively.

South Africa formed the Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) to monitor the spread of the virus in June 2020. Over 16 lineages of the virus circulating only in this region were found in the first wave. Of these, there were three clusters responsible for over 40% of infections in this country.

The C.1 was the most widespread of the lineages at this time. The Beta variant, which arose in October 2020, consisted of three RBD mutations, including K417N, E484K, and N501Y, and drove the second wave in this country, displacing the earlier clusters. This strain of SARS-CoV-2 is resistant to pre-existing neutralizing antibodies, with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) being 6 to 200-fold higher than required for first-wave lineages.

The third wave was associated with the Alpha, Beta, Eta, and Delta SARS-CoV variants, about two-thirds being caused by the Beta variant and the other three accounting for about a quarter of cases in May 2021. By June 2021, the picture had changed to one where the Delta variant was dominant, at 66% of sequenced genomes, while the Beta caused 16% of cases.

The Delta variant was sequenced in 96% of sampled genomes by September 2021, while C1.2 made up 1%. The latter arose in May 2021 from the C.1 lineage, showing multiple mutations and deletions, with a collection of new mutations that probably confer resistance to neutralization. This variant has spread across most of the country.

How lineage affects transmissibility

The average number of cases in each wave increased steadily to double the original level, both the mean active cases and daily new cases. The lineage cluster 1 (predominantly B.1.1.54 and B.1.1.56 C.1) in the first wave gave way seamlessly to lineage cluster 2 (predominantly Beta (B.1.351) in the second, with hardly any difference in the daily new or active cases.

In the third wave, the mean daily cases rose by more than half compared to the first two waves, driven mostly by the Delta variant, which is therefore shown to be far more transmissible than the others.

Hospitalization impact

Hospitalized cases are mostly those with severe or critical COVID-19. The greatest increase in the ratio of hospitalized cases to active cases was observed with the transition into the second wave, at over 110%, compared to about 55% and 35% for the first/third and second/third wave comparisons, respectively.

This implicates the Beta variant in the increased disease severity during the second wave, while the Delta variant causes more severe infection than the first cluster.

Disease severity

During all three waves, 72-78% of hospitalized patients were in the general ward, with similar percentages of patients in the intensive care unit throughout. However, those on oxygen increased from about 17% in the first wave to approximately 28% and 22% in the second and third waves, respectively, though ventilation-requiring cases remained stable. Thus, infection with the Beta variant is associated with the highest oxygen-requiring patient percentage.

Age distribution

About 56% of COVID-19 cases in all waves occurred in individuals between the ages of 50 and 69 years, followed by about 15% in those between 40-49 years in the first and third waves. The number of cases in the 60-69 years age group rose from about 16% to 18% from the second wave. Ultimately, older people were targeted by the Delta variant compared to earlier lineages.

Mortality distribution

Most deaths in the hospital occurred in those between 60-69 years, with one in four deaths from COVID-19. Comparatively, there was a 40% chance that those between the ages of 50-59 years died from COVID-19.

Those between 70-79 years made up the next largest segment of deaths, at approximately one in five, during the first and third waves. In the second wave, about 30% of deaths occurred in individuals aged 60-69 years.

The highest risk of death was in the age group 50-59 years, driven largely by the increased percentage of such deaths in the second wave. The Beta variant thus drove up deaths in the 50-59 years age group.

Both hospitalizations and mortality among the young in the 0-19 and 0-29 years groups were very low, comprising up to 4.4% and 2% of total deaths, respectively. However, there is no significant difference in the hospital case-fatality rates in the three waves.

Implications

The findings from the current study demonstrate that the Beta VOC caused increased disease severity, while the Delta wave caused about 55% higher transmissibility. The percentage of hospitalized patients on oxygen was highest with the Beta variant as well.

The Delta variant caused more cases among those over the age of 70 years than the other two lineage clusters. Overall, most hospitalized patients came from the 50-69 years age group. Mortality did not differ between the three waves, being mainly in the ages of 50-69 years. Children and young people (0-29 years) were affected relatively lightly.

“The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in an increase in COVID-19 transmissibility and severity in South Africa. The Delta SARS-CoV-2 VOC resulted in increased COVID-19 transmissibility in the South African population while both the Beta SARS-CoV-2 VOC and Delta SARS-CoV-2 VOC resulted in more severe COVID-19.”

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

Written by

Dr. Liji Thomas

Dr. Liji Thomas is an OB-GYN, who graduated from the Government Medical College, University of Calicut, Kerala, in 2001. Liji practiced as a full-time consultant in obstetrics/gynecology in a private hospital for a few years following her graduation. She has counseled hundreds of patients facing issues from pregnancy-related problems and infertility, and has been in charge of over 2,000 deliveries, striving always to achieve a normal delivery rather than operative.