See what is known about the new Covid variant, B.1.1.529

Detected earlier this week, a new variant of Sars-Cov-2, which causes Covid, has generated a huge wave of concern in many countries around the world.

It is still too early to understand its effects on contagion, disease severity or vaccine efficacy, but because it has many mutations, governments preferred to anticipate as task forces of scientists work “24 hours a day” to understand it. .

Here are some questions and answers about the new mutant.

When was it detected?

On Tuesday (23), scientists began calling attention to a variant with a large number of mutations, some described as “terrible”, in the S protein (from a spike, or spike), used by Sars-Cov-2 to enter the cells. human cells.

On Wednesday (24), she received the “name” (classification within coronavirus strains) of B.1.1.529.

Where did she show up?

The sequencing was done in South Africa, which is not to say that the variant appeared there. The country has invested in pandemic surveillance and coronavirus gene sequencing, which increases its chances of finding mutants.

Why did scientists care?

One of the first virologists to call attention to the variant, Tom Peacock of Imperial College London, pointed out that the mutations made in protein S were the “most horrible” ever seen, and that it was the first time he had seen not one but two mutations “at the furin cleavage site”.

The director of Ceri (South Africa’s Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation), Túlio de Oliveira, said on Thursday (25) that the variant surprised virologists, because “it took a great leap forward in evolution and has many more mutations than expected.

The variant has 50 mutations in total and more than 30 in protein S, the most worrying, because it is from this that vaccines are produced.

If its structure is significantly altered compared to that used for the production of vaccines against Covid, there is a concern that the immunizers will lose effectiveness against the variant.

Does this mean that vaccines don’t work against this variant?

There is not enough research yet on how the variant works or how it reacts to vaccines and antibodies from those who have developed natural immunity.

When will it be possible to know if the variant is able to circumvent the vaccine?

This Thursday (25), the WHO stated that it may take a few weeks to better understand the impact of the new variant.

Is the variant more contagious?

It is not known yet. The director of Ceri (South Africa’s Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation), Túlio de Oliveira, said on Thursday (25) that B.1.1.529 “has the potential to spread very quickly”, and that scientists are working “24 hours a day” to understand the effects of the new variant on five points: 1) transmissibility; 2) effect of vaccines; 3) possibility of reinfection; 4) disease severity, and 5) diagnosis.

Why is it suspected of being more contagious?

Preliminary data indicate that the variant has increased rapidly in Gauteng province, the most populous in the country and which includes Pretoria and Johannesburg, and may already be present in the other eight provinces in the country.

According to the director of Ceri, genomic surveillance shows that B.1.1.529, in less than two weeks, already stands out in relation to infections by other variants of Covid, right after “a devastating wave of Delta”.

Researchers claim that about 90% of new cases in Gauteng could be associated with the B.1.1.529 variant.

The NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases of South Africa), however, does not attribute the growth of local cases to the new variant. More than 1,200 new cases in 24 hours were registered on Wednesday, up from 100 at the beginning of the month. The daily data from that farm, published by the NICD, already point to 2,465 new infections.

Will the variant be named after a Greek letter?

Possibly. This should be decided at a meeting this Friday afternoon, by the WHO, which attributes Greek letters to mutations it considers as “attention” (which must have its effects monitored) and “concern” (which are more transmissible or cause more damage variants). , such as alpha and delta, for example).

The next letter to be assigned is nu (pronounced niu), the 13th of the Greek alphabet.

If there is still no evidence of the variant’s impact, why are countries banning flights and imposing quarantines?

As a precaution, as scientists have drawn attention to the potential for risk because of the large number of mutations in protein S.

Where are there sequenced cases?

As of this Thursday (25), there were 77 confirmed cases in Gauteng Province, South Africa, 4 in Botswana and 1 in Hong Kong (directly related to a trip from South Africa).