Abstract: In the present work, we report the identification of a potential variant of interest, harboring the mutations
T478K,
P681H, and
T732A in the
spike protein, within the newly named lineage B.1.1.519, that rapidly outcompeted the preexisting variants in Mexico and has been the dominant virus in the country during the first trimester of 2021.
Introduction: A phylogenomic analysis of genomic sequences using the Nextstrain tool showed that the viruses in the lineage B.1.1.519 (B.1.1.1.222+
T478K+
P681H+
T732A) group independently of the lineage B.1.1.222 sequences, strongly suggesting that this variant should be classified as a variant of interest (VOI).