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Review
. 2023 Sep 12;2(4):247-261.
doi: 10.1016/j.imj.2023.08.005. eCollection 2023 Dec.

A review of SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccines: Viral properties, mutations, vaccine efficacy, and safety

Md Aminul Islam  1   2
Affiliations
Review

A review of SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccines: Viral properties, mutations, vaccine efficacy, and safety

Md Aminul Islam. Infect Med (Beijing). .

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2 instigated by coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has delivered an unfathomable obstruction that has touched all sectors worldwide. Despite new vaccine technologies and mass administration of booster doses, the virus persists, and unknown the ending of the pandemic for new variants and sub-variants. Moreover, whether leaning on home medications or using plant extracts is sufficient often to combat the virus has generated tremendous interest in the scientific fraternity. Different databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar used to find published articles linked with related topics. Currently, COVID-19 third and fourth shots of vaccines are progressively administered worldwide, where some countries trail others by a significant margin. Many proteins related to viral activity have changed, possibly boosting the virus infectivity and making antibodies ineffective. This study will reminisce the viral genome, associated pathways for viral protein functions, variants, and their mutations. The current, comprehensive review will also provide information on vaccine technologies developed by several biotech companies and the efficacy of their doses, costs including boosters on a mass level. As no vaccine is working to protect fully against all the variants, the new proactive vaccine research needs to be conducted based on all variants, their sub-lineage, and mutations.

Keywords: Booster doses; Immunity; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccines; Variants & subvariants.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
A detailed depiction of the genomic structure of SARS-CoV-2, with a focus on the structural and nonstructural protein segments and their smaller subunits. The diagram provides a comprehensive understanding of this virus's molecular organization and complexity, particularly with respect to its protein-coding regions , .
Fig 2
Fig. 2
A comparative view of the vaccine development process in 2 distinct platforms, traditional vaccines, and COVID-19 vaccines, highlights the similarities and differences between the 2 platforms and emphasizes the unique challenges and advancements associated with COVID-19 vaccine development .
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Comprehensive overview of the design and development of COVID-19 vaccines, showcasing 3 different approaches to vaccine development: (A) a specific vaccine targeting mRNA, (B) the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, and (C) a general overview of the overall design and development of COVID-19 vaccines .
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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