SARS-CoV-2 variants and COVID-19 vaccines: Current challenges and future strategies

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global threat. Despite strict control measures implemented worldwide and immunization using novel vaccines, the pandemic continues to rage due to emergence of several variants of SARS-CoV-2 with increased transmission and immune escape. The rapid spread of variants of concern (VOC) in the recent past has created a massive challenge for the control of COVID-19 pandemic via the currently used vaccines. Vaccines that are safe and effective against the current and future variants of SARS-CoV-2 are essential in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid production and massive rollout of next-generation vaccines against the variants are key steps to control the COVID-19 pandemic and to help us return to normality. Coordinated surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, rapid redesign of new vaccines and extensive vaccination are needed to counter the current SARS-CoV-2 variants and prevent the emergence of new variants. In this article, we review the latest information on the VOCs and variants of interest (VOIs) and present the information on the clinical trials that are underway on evaluating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines on VOCs. We also discuss the current challenges posed by the VOCs in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and future strategies to overcome the threat posed by the highly virulent and rapidly transmissible variants of SARS-CoV2. The COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in 2019. The COVID-19 has now spread to all part of the world and has become a global threat. Even after the strict control measures and immunization programs to prevent the disease, COVID-19 is still causing destruction due to appearance of new strains of SARS-CoV-2 that transmit faster and capable of escaping the immunity. The faster spread of the new strains of viruses that cause more severe disease is the biggest challenge to control the COVID-19 pandemic by using the presently available vaccines. To control the COVID-19 pandemic we urgently need safe and effective vaccines against the corona viral variants. This can be achieved by tracking the appearance of new viral types, design and rapid production and supply of new vaccines against the virus. This article presents the latest information on the new types of SARS-CoV-2, and on the status of vaccine trials and their effectiveness against these viruses. Similarly, the information on the challenges posed by the new viral strains in controlling the COVID-19 and future strategies to overcome the threat posed by corona viruses is also provided.

由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2）引发的新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）大流行已演变为全球性公共卫生威胁。尽管全球范围内已实施严格的防控措施并推广新型疫苗接种，但由于SARS-CoV-2出现多种传播能力增强且可发生免疫逃逸的变异株，该大流行仍持续肆虐。近期，各类关切变异株（variant of concern, VOC）的快速传播，给当前依托现有疫苗的COVID-19防控工作带来了严峻挑战。研发对当前及未来SARS-CoV-2变异株安全有效的疫苗，是控制COVID-19大流行的核心要务。针对变异株的下一代疫苗的快速研发与大规模推广接种，是管控COVID-19大流行、助力社会回归常态的关键举措。我们需协同开展SARS-CoV-2监测、快速重新设计新型疫苗并推进广泛接种，以应对当前的SARS-CoV-2变异株并防范新变异株的出现。本文综述了当前关于关切变异株（VOC）与感兴趣变异株（variant of interest, VOIs）的最新研究进展，并梳理了正在开展的评估COVID-19疫苗对VOC防护效力的临床试验相关信息。此外，本文还探讨了VOC给COVID-19防控工作带来的当前挑战，以及应对高致病性、高传播性SARS-CoV-2变异株威胁的未来策略。COVID-19是一种由2019年首次发现的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引发的呼吸道传染性疾病。目前，COVID-19已蔓延至全球所有地区，成为全球性公共卫生威胁。即便实施了严格的防控措施与免疫接种计划，由于SARS-CoV-2出现了传播更快且可逃逸机体免疫保护的新型毒株，COVID-19仍在持续造成严重危害。这些传播更快、致病程度更重的新型毒株的快速扩散，是当前依托现有疫苗控制COVID-19大流行面临的最大挑战。为管控COVID-19大流行，我们亟需研发针对新冠病毒变异株的安全有效疫苗。这一目标可通过追踪新型病毒毒株的出现、快速设计并生产供应针对该病毒的新型疫苗来实现。本文梳理了SARS-CoV-2新型毒株的最新研究进展，以及当前疫苗试验的开展情况与这些疫苗针对新型毒株的防护效力相关信息。同时，本文也阐述了新型毒株在COVID-19防控工作中带来的挑战，并提供了应对新冠病毒威胁的未来策略。