Covid ‘super variant’ with 32 mutations found in Botswana ‘could be worse than Delta’

The B.1.1.529 variant, which carries an “extremely high number” of mutations, was first detected in Botswana

A new variant of Covid-19 with an “extremely high number” of mutations is said to be the most evolved strain of the virus and could elude existing vaccines, scientists have warned.

Variant B.1.1.529, an offshoot of an older variant called B.1.1, has 32 spike mutations in the spike protein and was found in Botswana – where it is believed to have first appeared – as well as in South Africa and Hong Kong.

So far, only 10 cases of the new variant have been spotted through genomic sequencing, but experts believe its identification in three countries suggests it may be more widespread.

The only case identified in Hong Kong was from a person who had recently traveled from South Africa, raising concerns that more infections had spread during international travel.

The high number of mutations in the new variant has raised concerns in the scientific community, as a number of mutations can help the virus evade immunity.

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College who tweeted about the discovery, described the combination of variant mutations as “horrible.”

Describing the mutation profile of the new strain as “really horrible”, he added that it had the potential to be “worse than almost everything else,” including the now dominant Delta strain, which has 16 spike mutations. .

He wrote: “The export to Asia implies that it might be more widespread than the footage alone would suggest. In addition, the extremely long length of the branches and the incredibly high number of spike mutations suggest that this could be a real problem (expected escape of most known monoclonal antibodies).

“It is worth pointing out that this is currently a very low number in a region of Africa that is quite well sampled, but it should be monitored due to this horrible peak profile (one would have to assume that that would be antigenically worse than almost anything else by the way).

So far, three cases have been detected in Botswana and six in South Africa. The first cases were collected in Botswana on November 11.

The Hong Kong case was a 36-year-old man who visited South Africa on October 23 and returned on November 11.

He tested negative on his return to Hong Kong, but then tested positive on November 13 while in quarantine at a hotel.

In South Africa, cases rose from 312 on Monday to more than 860 on Tuesday, but scientists believe it is too early to tell if there is a link to the new “super variant”.

New coronavirus variants are identified all the time and often do not spread beyond a handful of cases.

There are currently no cases of the B.1.1.529 variant in the UK, but officials and scientists from the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) have said they are monitoring and investigating the variant.

Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Director of Covid-19 Incidents, said: ‘The UK Health Safety Agency, in partnership with scientific bodies around the world, is continuously monitoring the status of SARS-CoV variants. -2 as they emerge and expand into the world.

“As it is in the nature of viruses to mutate often and at random, it is not uncommon for a small number of cases to present with new sets of mutations. All variants showing signs of spread are promptly assessed.

Professor François Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, said the variant may have evolved during chronic infection in an immunocompromised person, possibly an untreated HIV / AIDS patient.

He said: “I would certainly expect it to be poorly recognized by neutralizing antibodies compared to Alpha or Delta.

“It’s hard to predict how transmissible it can be at this stage. At this time, it should be closely monitored and analyzed, but there is no reason to be overly concerned unless it begins to increase in frequency in the near future.