Identification and characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 upon the new outbreak of the COVID-19 in Ukraine in February 2021

Aim. To identify and characterize the SARS-CoV-2 variants, collected upon the new wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Ivano-Frankivs’k region of Ukraine, using the whole genome genotyping. Methods. The parallel whole genome sequencing was performed on the processed RNA, isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs of 19 patients, using an Ion GeneStudio S5 Plus System. Results. All the identified SARS-CoV-2 genotypes were referred to 20I/501Y.V1 clade, the variant VUI202012/01 GRY (the B.1.1.7 lineage). In the analyzed virus variants forty-seven various mutations were found. Besides the founder 20I/501Y.V1 missense mutations, several unique alterations were detected, including those in the S-and N-proteins of SARS-CoV-2, that might have clinical and epidemiological relevance. Conclusions. The current wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ukraine is associated not only with seasonal fluctuations in the virus transmission, but also with the emergence of more aggressive virulent variants, such as B.1.1.7, which basically displaced previous strains and affects the younger population.