Recurrent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion H69/V70 and its role in the Alpha variant B.1.1.7

SARS-CoV-2 U.K. variant (B.1.1.7) possesses H69/V70 deletion mutation in its spike protein. This deletion mutant does not confer antibody escape in in vitro, but increases virus infectivity associated with enhanced incorporation of cleaved spike into virions. The B.1.1.7 variant spike protein mediates faster kinetics of cell-cell fusion than Wuhan strain, which is likely dependent on the H69/V70 deletion.