New Circulating Variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Asturias During the Period (2022-2024)

Background: The mutation of a new virus is key to its ability to adapt, as it allows the virus to change and survive in new environments. We try to capture the full extent of SARS-CoV-2 diversity in Asturias. Methods: Samples from nasopharyngeal swabs belonging to SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were characterized by the whole genome sequencing. Results: A total of 4,001 sequences were analysed between 2020 and July 2024. During this time, 5302 mutations were found (157 occurred in more than 5% of the viral population). Between 2022 and 2024, 88 new non-synonymous mutations occurred in over 5% of the viral population, of which 31 are currently maintained and were fixed 250±46 (93-620) days after their appearance. Besides, 55 new circulating variants (NCVs) belonging to 41 pangolin lineages were detected. Of these NCVs, 24 were originated throughout the world, and the other 31 in Asturias (10 were only detected in the region, 8 also in Spain, and 13 around the world).Conclusions: New variants circulating around the world continually appear in our region, leading to a constant rotation of lineages. Although most of the changes have little or no impact on the virus's properties, the continued emergence of new variants warrant continued genomic surveillance.