Scientists monitoring the adaptability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are concerned about a COVID-19 variation that may be more contagious and potentially avoid vaccine immunity.
On August 25, 2023, JN.1, the most recent developing variation, was discovered in Luxembourg. England, Iceland, France, and the US were the following countries to report cases.
The extreme divergence of the variant from other prevalent COVID strains like XBB.1.5 and HV.1 astounded scientists in particular.
Since most new variations are descended from the XBB.1.5 variant, which is the focus of the most recent vaccine boosters in the US, current vaccinations are effective against all of them. Although HV.1 is a very new strain, it differs from XBB.1.5 in a few areas but mostly resembles its parent strain.
However, JN.1 differs significantly.
“A devious strain”
JN.1 has 41 additional unique mutations compared to XBB.1.5, while HV.1 has ten more unique mutations than XBB.1.5.
The spike protein exhibits the majority of JN. 1’s alterations, which are probably related to rises in immune evasion and infectivity. This could indicate that the present vaccinations will not prevent the virus.
“Due to a mutation on its spike protein, JN.1 seems much more immune evasive than its parents, making it quite devious. As a result, we may be at risk of getting more infections,” said Dr Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo in New York.
“There is some data that suggests JN. 1’s parent BA.2.86 may be more transmissible than previous variants,” he added.
The first time such stark changes in spike protein variants were observed was in the alpha and beta versions of SARS-CoV-2 in 2021, at the onset of the epidemic.
Scientists have reported that their reemergence in JN.1 is significant.
However, according to preliminary evidence, the new Covid vaccinations may help protect against JN.1, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It further stated that the SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group of the federal government’s analysis indicates that tests and treatments would continue to be successful.
