New Delhi: As the world grapples with the highly mutated Omicron form of SARS-CoV-2, scientists have identified a new variant of COVID-19 in southern France. Version B.1.640.2, designated as ‘IHU’, has been found in at least 12 cases by researchers at IHU Mediterranean Infection. It is being linked to a visit to the African country of Cameroon.
However, the researchers say that as far as protection from infection and vaccines are concerned, it is too early to speculate. 29 on MedArchive, the Internet site that publishes unpublished manuscripts about Health Sciences, showed that IHU has 46 mutations and 37 deletions, resulting in 30 amino acid substitutions and 12 deletions. Amino acids are molecules that combine to form proteins and both are the building blocks of life.
Most of the vaccines currently in use are targeted at the spike protein of SARS-Cov-2. These viruses target these proteins to enter cells and cause infection. The N501Y and E484K mutations were also previously found in beta, gamma, theta, and omicron formats.
“The mutation set and phylogenetic position of the genome obtained here points to a new variant called IHU based on our previous definition,” the study authors said. B.1.640.2 has not yet been identified in other countries or labeled as under investigation by the World Health Organization.
Epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding posted a lengthy Twitter thread in which he said the new form keeps emerging, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be more dangerous. “What makes a variant more dangerous is the number of times it mutates compared to the original virus,” Feigl-Ding tweeted on Tuesday.
Many countries are currently plagued by the surge in the case of Corona Omicron form. This form was identified in South Africa and Botswana in November last year. Since then Omicron has spread to 100 countries. So far, a total of 1892 cases of infection of Omicron form have been reported in 23 states and union territories in India.
