New, powerful potential COVID-19 variant found in South Africa

New powerful potential COVID-19 variant found in South Africa

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

COVID-19, as feared, is proving to be a rapidly evolving enemy, especially with ignorant South Africans choosing to succumb to conspiracy over reality, opting not to get the vaccination for irrational reasons. 

Concerningly, as the virus develops, researchers in South Africa have identified a potential SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest.

According to the research, the variant was detected through genomic surveillance of the virus during the country’s third wave of infections.

The researchers’ paper explains that ongoing waves of infection result in the selection of SARS-CoV-2 variants with novel constellations of mutations within the viral genome. 

Some of the emerging variants accumulate mutations within the spike region, resulting in increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion, making them of increased public health importance.

The researchers add, “Depending on their clinical and epidemiological profiles, these are either designated as variants of interest (VOI) or variants of concern (VOC), and ongoing genomic surveillance is essential for early detection of such variants.”

There are currently four VOCs (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta) and four VOIs (Eta, Iota, Kappa and Lambda) in circulation globally. Of these, Alpha, Beta and Delta have had the most impact globally in terms of transmission and immune evasion, with Delta rapidly displacing other variants to dominate globally, including in South Africa.

According to the paper, the variant of interest has been assigned to the PANGO lineage C.1.2. This lineage was first identified in May 2021 and evolved from C.1, one of the lineages that dominated the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in South Africa and was last detected in January 2021.

The paper’s authors say C.1.2 has since been detected across the majority of the provinces in South Africa and seven other countries spanning Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The paper adds to this and highlights, “The C.1.2 lineage was first detected in the Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces of South Africa, in May 2021. In June 2021, it was also detected in the KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces of South Africa, as well as in England and China. As of August 13, 2021 the C.1.2 lineage has been detected in 6/9 South African provinces.”

According to the research, C.1.2 is highly mutated compared to C.1, and the other VOC and VOI identified to date. In fact, the study shows the newly emerged sequence contains several changes within the virus’s spike protein, which is how the virus enters human cells.

Moreover, the changes are known for having increased infectivity through their ability to replicate. In plain and simple English, this means it promotes the spread of the virus in people.

Adding to this, another cause of concern is that C.1.2 has accumulated additional mutations, which are also likely to impact neutralisation sensitivity, which entails how the neutralising antibodies (a critical part of the body’s immune response to a virus) reacts to the virus.

Antibodies are triggered by natural infection or vaccination.

Genomic surveillance is ongoing to ensure scientists can determine whether the combination of mutations in C.1.2 truly makes it more transmissible than other variants. In addition, due to a steady increase in the number of C.1.2 genomes in South Africa, the researchers will also investigate the effectiveness of the Covid vaccines against this variant in the lab.

The preliminary analysis by the researchers is available on medRxiv, as it undergoes peer review. 

With this factual information, what are your thoughts? Share your views in the comment section below.

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