Transmission of descendants of the 2022 outbreak lineage B.1 is ongoing in 2023 and 2024. Most of the sequenced genomes fall within one of 4 lineages, 3 of which are newly designated here: B.1.21, B.1.22, C.1.1, while B.1.20 is a previously designated lineage. With these designations.
All of the 3 lineages satisfy the criteria for lineage designation last updated in October 2023:
- International spread
- Having at least 2 mutation above the parent lineage (increased from 1)
- Containing at least 15 sequences or plausibly represents undersampled diversity
- Clear common phylogenetic structure (no uncertainty about possibly being designated as 2 lineages instead of 1)
- Has at least one freely available high quality reference sequence
This is a mostly cross-US lineage with the most recent sequence collected in February 2024.
It is defined by G22415A and C132698T.
The yaml file can be found here.
This is a mostly German lineage with the most recent sequence collected in March 2024.
It is defined by C34784T and C101418T.
The yaml file can be found here.
This is a global lineage with the most recent sequence collected in March 2024. It was sequenced particularly frequently in Portugal, but also in Germany and the US - which are the major sequencing countries that submit to the INSDC. GISAID-only sequences indicate this lineage was common in China.
It is defined by C21062T and C149963T.
The yaml file can be found here.