ABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) "Delta" is currently defined by PANGOLIN as a cluster of 33 different AY sublineages. Delta (in particular B.1.617.2) is largely and rapidly replacing the Alpha VOC as the dominant clade in most countries. To date, variations in the Spike protein of the Delta VOC have largely been limited. We report here the results of a genomic surveillance programme from Northern Italy. We identified several Delta sublineages harbouring mutations previously reported in GISAID at extremely low frequencies and in different combinations. Two patients (one of them vaccinated) tested positive for a Delta sublineage harbouring S71F, T250I, T572I and K854N. More patients tested positive for G769 V plus C1248F, A352S, and R158G and C1248F, respectively. Genomic surveillance of Delta variants should be encouraged to anticipate immune escape and deploy countermeasures.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/virology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Adult , Aged , Evolution, Molecular , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultSubject(s)
COVID-19/pathology , SARS-CoV-2 , Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/pathology , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/immunology , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacology , Female , Genome, Viral/genetics , Humans , Italy , Middle Aged , Peru , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/pathology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/virology , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Laboratory tests may be useful tools in the identification of heavy drinkers, in identifying the etiological role of alcohol in the onset of the disease, and in monitoring changes in alcohol intake. OBJECTIVES: An ideal diagnostic marker of alcohol abuse should: be characterized by high specificity and sensitivity; show an high specific correlation with alcohol metabolism; be dependent on alcohol intake and have a relatively short half-life (t1/2) so as to be able to monitor abstinence periods. CONCLUSIONS: CDT (Carbohydrate-Deficient-Transferrin) meets all these requirements and offers the physician a significant tool as a marker of chronic alcohol abuse. CDT can reveal a daily alcohol consumption of 50-80 g of ethanol, corresponding to a bottle of 11 degrees-13 degrees wine, for two consecutive weeks, with normalization after two weeks of abstinence (t1/2 of CDT is 15 days). Compared with other more common alcohol abuse markers, such as GGT or MCK CDT is more specific and provides more detailed information.
