[ad_1]
FEBRUARY 24TH: A new variant of the coronavirus that shares some similarities with a more transmissible and untreatable variant discovered in South Africa is on the rise in New York City, researchers said Wednesday.
The new variant, known as B.1.526, was first identified in samples collected in New York in November, and by mid-February it accounted for about 12% of cases, researchers from the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons said Wednesday. Columbia University.
The variant was also described in research published online this week by the California Institute of Technology. No study has been reviewed by external experts.
The Columbia researchers said an analysis of publicly available databases did not show a high prevalence of newly identified coronavirus variants in South Africa and Brazil in case samples from New York City and surrounding areas.
“Instead, we found large numbers of this homegrown lineage,” said Dr. Anne-Catrin Uhlemann, assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in a statement.
The Columbia study found that B.1.526 shares some worrying characteristics with B.1.351, the variant first identified in South Africa, and P.1., Which was first identified in Brazil. Several studies have suggested that these new variants are more resistant to some existing vaccines than previous versions of the coronavirus.
The researchers said the main concern is a change in an area of the virus’ spike protein, called E484K, which is present in all three variants. The E484K mutation is believed to weaken the body’s immune response to the virus.
Studies have shown that recently released coronavirus vaccines are likely to neutralize the virus and protect against serious illness, even for infections with new variants. Vaccine manufacturers are also working to develop booster vaccines to combat mutated versions of the virus. Reuters
[ad_2]
