Evolutionary insight into the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 evolution during chronic infection reveals that in this setting, the virus evolves to bear mutations similar to those seen in variants of concern, and that many of these mutations are associated with antibody evasion. However, as mutations associated with high SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility are not observed, the emergence of variants of concern during chronic infection might be rare.