Category: Genome
XBB and three other SARS-CoV-2 strains found to be more antibody-evasive than BQ.1.1 and BA.2.75.2
The speed with which SARS-CoV-2 is now evolving is quite breathtaking – ever-fitter variants are now being uncovered on an almost daily basis. More...
Multiple hypermutated SARS-CoV-2 sequences that may have been created by molnupiravir
Molnupiravir, a drug used to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections, has received a lot of press attention since its launch, and not all of it has been positive. More...
Growth advantage for BQ.1.1 is above 100% per week
The Omicron variant BQ.1.1 appears to be in a prime position to drive the coming winter wave in Europe. More...
Preprint: Mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant resistant to remdesivir
A new preprint study shows that two kidney transplant patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs, and who later had a lengthy COVID-19 infection, developed a version of the virus with a genetic change that made it resistant to the antiviral therapy remdesivir. More...
BA.2.75.2 and BQ.1.1 approaching SARS-1 levels of escape
A new Twitter thread out today from Yunlong Cao gives further details about the variants BA.2.75 and BQ.1.1. More...
Preprint: Russian Khosta-2 bat virus resistant to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
“We found that the spike from virus, Khosta-2, could infect cells similar to human pathogens using the same entry mechanisms, but was resistant to neutralization by serum from individuals who had been vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2.” More...
BA.2.75.2 “exhibits more extreme antibody escape than any variant we’ve seen so far”
Two preprints have been published over the last few days that give more details about the Omicron BA.2.75.2 sublineage. More...
BA.2.75.2: The “most immune evasive strain we have tested so far”
A Twitter post from Covid researcher Yunlong Cao claims that Omicron BA.2.75.2 is “currently the most immune evasive strain we have tested so far”. More...
WHO: Legionellosis outbreak in Tucuman, Argentina
“Further analyses of two bronchoalveolar lavage samples by highly sensitive total DNA sequencing found readings compatible with Legionella spp.”. More...
Preprint: White-tailed deer still harbouring Alpha, Gamma and Delta variants in New York
Nine lineages including three major variants of concern; Alpha, Gamma and Delta, were detected in White-tailed deer samples in New York. More...