SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

(Editors’ note) This is based on a presentation that Sharon Peacock gave in April 17, 2021, at First RIETI CGM IPJO Joint International Workshop on Socio-life Science: Public health and COVID-19 Outbreak, held online at Reseach Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) and hosted jointly by RIETI, Kyoto University and Institut Pasteur. The aim of the talk was to give a broad overview, and the references in the slides (and provided here) were to provide examples of the relevant literature rather than a comprehensive literature review. The talk was given before the WHO announced a naming scheme for variants using the Greek alphabet, and prior to Delta variant being defined as a Variant of Concern.