Researchers and scientists have discovered a new sub-micron variant, derived from BA.2 and classified as BA.2.75, developing ‘El Mundo’, confirming that it has a greater ability to resist vaccines.
However, it is important to note that there are still very few confirmed cases, but in addition to a larger outbreak in India, the geographic distribution is already international (with infections in Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
The analysis of the variant in question was carried out in detail by Tom Peacock, a virologist in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Imperial College London, who discovered 45 mutations in the 2.75 BA in common with BA.5 and 15 exotics. Among these are eight spike protein mutations (BA.5 contains “only” 3).
In particular, the subvariate is significantly different from BA.2 with two major mutations: G446S and R493Q. G446S, which was synthesized by scientists at the Fred Hatch Laboratory of Proteomics and Virus Evolution (USA), is one of the most effective escape sites for antibodies caused by current vaccines that still neutralize BA.2.
Therefore, prediction of BA.2.75 is a greater means in resisting the antibody barrier generated by vaccines or recent Covid-19 infection. However, G446S will have less effect on antibodies in people with previous BA.1 infection, which means that the antigenic advantage is more pronounced in people who have not been exposed to BA.1.
The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to “make” vaccine antibodies is increasing, also because the distance from variants that followed over time from the original Wuhan virus (on which vaccines were designed) is so poor.
However, the success of any variant also depends on its intrinsic transmissibility. So far, the infective capacity of SARS-CoV-2 (making it one of the most infectious viruses to have appeared on the planet) has always increased and the same can happen with the BA 2.75 variant, which has eight spike protein mutations.
However, nothing is known about the larger or smaller mortality rate, which is only measured in the field, in hospitals. However, so far, the virus has not evolved to increase its pathogenic effect and it is believed that this may be the case again.
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