Characterization of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant that emerged in Brazil

The pathogenesis of a SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant isolated from a traveler from Brazil to Tokyo was evaluated using a syrian hamster infection model. The disease severity of this P.1 variant was comparable to that of early strain. Convalescent sera from patients infected with early strain or sera from BNT162b2 mRNA vaccinated individuals showed comparable neutralization activity between the P.1 variant and previously circulating strain. In contrast, the early strain was less well recognized from the sera of P.1 infected individual.