The new variant, known as B.1.526, was first identified in samples collected in New York last November, according to researchers at the Vagelos College of Medicine at Columbia University. By mid-February this year, this variant had accounted for 12% of all cases in New York. The new variant is described in a study published this week by the California Institute of Technology.
The above variant shares some similarities with a more infectious and incurable variant discovered in South Africa.
The analysis of available data did not reveal the high incidence of recently discovered variants in South Africa and Brazil in samples in New York City and other regions, the Columbia University researchers said. vicinity. Instead, they found large numbers of infections with variant B.1.526, said a representative from Vagelos College of Medicine.
Research by Columbia University shows that B.1.526 shares some disturbing traits with variant B.1.351, first discovered in South Africa, and P.1, discovered for the first time. in Brazil. Several studies have demonstrated that these new variants are more resistant to certain existing Covid-19 vaccines than previously discovered variants.
The main concern, according to the researchers, is a change in one region of the viral prickly protein, called E484K, which occurs in all three variants. E484K is thought to impair the body’s immune response to the virus.
Studies have shown that the recently released Covid-19 vaccines are still capable of inactivating the virus and preventing serious illness, even in cases of infection with new variants.
The vaccine manufacturers around the world are also stepping up research to develop more powerful vaccines against dangerous variants of SARS-CoV-2.
New York is one of the states most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Worldometers website, so far, the state has recorded more than 1.6 million cases and over 47,000 deaths. Across the country, the US recorded nearly 29 million cases and over 518,000 people died from Covid-19.
