New COVID-19 variant 'IHU' can be more transmissible, resistant to vaccines; what we know so far

The genomic sequencing was done using Oxford Nanopore Technologies on GridION instruments to completion within less than eight hours.

Two of the mutations of the spike protein, which is the part of the virus that binds to human cells that then allows the virus to infect them, are N501Y and E484K. The N501Y mutation was first identified in the 'Alpha' or B.1.1.7 variant and has been linked to increased transmissibility. The E484K mutation is an escape mutation that allows the virus to potentially evade the antibody response of the human immune system. This means that variants of the virus with the E484K mutation are able to infect individuals more easily than other variants even if they are vaccinated. The mutation is present in the B.1.1.7, B.1.351 (‘Beta variant), and P.1 (Gamma) lineages.

The presence of these mutations means that the 'IHU variant' is most likely more transmissible and more resistant against vaccines than the wild variant of COVID-19.

While the emergence of another super mutated variant of the COVID-19 virus may seem like an immediate cause for concern, it may not necessarily be the case. The first case of the B.1.640.2 lineage or ‘IHU Variant’, or the index case, was identified in mid-November. That is even before the identification and emergence of the Omicron variant.

In nearly seven weeks, the B.1.640.2 lineage has only managed to be identified in less than 20 cases so far. France has a strong surveillance system for COVID-19 variants, which is how a variant with only 12 identified cases was picked up, so it is unlikely that there are exponentially more hidden cases of B.1.640.2 lineage.

In a shorter amount of time, the Omicron variant has infected over a hundred thousand individuals in just the UK and the US alone. The Omicron variant has a total of 50 mutations as well, with nearly 36 on just the spike protein alone. Just the presence of a large number of mutations does not predicate the danger of a variant alone.

The B.1.640.2 lineage has had its time and at this point, it seems extremely unlikely that it can outcompete against the Omicron variant, which thankfully does cause less mild symptoms of COVID-19.

As the scientists point out, the real concerning factor about the 'IHU variant' is the ease with which new variants can emerge and possibly spread to other geographical areas.

"These data are another example of the unpredictability of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and of their introduction in a given geographical area from abroad,” the researchers stated in their paper.