SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant has 19 mutations in viral genome, including 8 substitutions or deletions in the spike protein. Among them, only N501Y substitution is essential for enhancing viral replication in the upper respiratory tract in the hamster model or human airway epithelial cells. The binding affinity of spike protein to human ACE2 receptor was improved by this substitution, which may be the determinant of the enhanced replication and transmission phenotype of variants possessing N501Y.
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