SARS-CoV-2 delta variants from Punjab province of Pakistan

The current study was designed to screen the delta variants among the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 suspects in major cities of Punjab. Twenty virus-positive samples were collected and whole-genome sequencing was performed. The most common mutations that were present in all twenty samples were T478K, T19R, L452R, F157del, E156G, P681R, D614G, R158del, and G142D3 in spike protein. Many of these were present in the receptor-binding domain of spike protein. The recent introduction of these variants may affect the therapeutic efforts and also the efficacy of the vaccine. Continuous genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Pakistan might be a useful strategy against virus infection.