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In the
United States
, struggling with an 83% prevalence of
the Delta variant
of the coronavirus, infectious disease experts are also keeping a close eye on the
Lambda variant
.
Genomic sequencing has so far identified "only" 1,060 cases (GISAID data), but some recent studies focus on the putative ability of this variant to
increase the transmissibility and neutralization of antibodies
produced by vaccines.
Where is it widespread?
The
Lambda variant
was first identified
in Peru
in August 2020. The World Health Organization (which designates Delta as a VOC, "variant of concern") defines
Lambda as a VOI, "variant of interest."
So far it has been detected in 29 countries, with high levels of diffusion of the
Delta variant
: in Chile 33%, in Peru 23%, in the US 20%, in Ecuador 5%, in Mexico 4%.
In Italy there have been a total of 13 cases, but only 1 in the last 4 weeks and
the prevalence is 0%
.
Its global prevalence has already declined in many areas of the world
and it does not appear to compete with Delta, but possible
mutations
may be of concern.
Mutations, the key to the new variant
Lambda has many mutations from the
original Wuhan strain
, including 7 in the spike protein of the virus.
Three are the most "dangers".
T76I and L452Q
, would increase the
contagion
power
, in fact, L452R is common to a variant that has spread in California (about 45% of current samples in the US state show this mutation) and is a mutation known to be more transmissible.
The third mutation under the magnifying glass is indicated with
RSYLTPGD246-253N
: it is found in the terminal part of the spike protein and thanks to it
Lambda
could have the power to
escape the antibodies created by vaccines
.
What the latest studies say
The latest studies on Lambda are published online as pre-press without having undergone the usual "peer review".
In chronological order, a study carried out on July 28 and coordinated by the University of Tokyo, examines the three previous mutations: "The Spike protein of the
Lambda variant
is more infectious and is attributed to the
T76I
and
L452Q
mutations. The
RSYLTPGD246-
mutation
253N
, a unique 7 amino acid deletion mutation in the N-terminal domain of the Spike protein, is responsible for the evasion of neutralizing antibodies. "
Vaccines are effective even in the worst cases
As of July 23 is a study from the
Mount Sinai
School of Medicine
in
New York. The researchers tested a number of viral variants, including
B.1.526
(Iota),
B.1.1.7 + E484K
(Alpha),
B.1.351
(Beta),
B .1.617.2
(Delta), and
C.37
(Lambda) in 76 people vaccinated with
mRNA-1273
(Moderna) or
BNT162b2
(Pfizer / BioNTech). The
greatest reduction
in the neutralizing power of the antibodies produced by the serum of vaccinated people was with
Lambda (4.6 times)
, followed by Beta, but the research specifies that in these tests it was a
Lambda "subvariant" with 84 more changes
compared to the C.37 sequence and that 'all 30 sera maintained at least partial neutralization activity against this
C.37 virus variant
, which could indicate that
mRNA vaccines will continue being effective
and that the immune evasion shown should be seen as the worst case for variant C.37.
The "modest" resistance to vaccines
Finally, the latest study published July 19 by
New York University's
Grossman School of Medicine
showed how some of the emerging variants (including Lambda) could elude the protection provided by a single dose
of
Johnson & Johnson's
Janssen vaccine.
.
However, the preprint notes that the
Beta, Delta, Delta-plus and Lambda
variants
showed only
"modest" resistance against the antibodies induced by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines
, suggesting that the vaccines may work in the same way.
Chinese vaccines and Lambda
Laboratory studies do not always align perfectly with real-world efficacy data, which in turn changes depending on the
country where
the variant
is spread
,
the vaccine used
in that particular state, and the
percentage of people vaccinated
reached.
The
Lambda
is widespread in
America of the South
and seems very widespread in areas where the prevailing
Delta
has expanded to countries where coverage of
vaccination
was generally composed of
Chinese vaccines
, which are valid but less effective, especially to stop the infection.
In Chile
, which also has a vaccination coverage of 64% (and
Lambda
is 33%),
the Chinese Sinovac vaccine called CoronaVac
(based on inactivated viruses) was used: the effectiveness of the vaccine is estimated at 65.9% against infections, 87.5% against hospitalizations, 90.3% against ICU admissions and 86.3% for the prevention of death.
CoronaVac-activated antibodies, however, could fall
below the "expected threshold" six months after
inoculation of the second dose.
These considerations are grafted onto the situation of the health systems of individual countries and the prevalence of the other variants.
Lambda does not prevail over the Delta
For now the
Lambda
is generally uphill, but it
has
already
had a peak from which it has descended
and does not prevail over the
Delta
.
It certainly has mutations to be aware of, but it needs to be better studied, especially in the real world in vaccinated people.
Its characteristics reflect the WHO designation of VOI,
"variant of interest"
and not VOC, "variant of concern."
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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