Covid, Nigerian variant discovered in Brescia and virus isolated

• A rare variant found in Naples, it is the first time in Italy

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02 March 2021 New detection in Italy of the 'Nigerian variant' of Sars-CoV-2, the B1.525 mutant identified for the first time in our country in Naples in February.

The new identification took place in Brescia, which was declared an 'enhanced orange' area with its province due to a particular diffusion of the English variant.

Arnaldo Caruso, president of the Italian Society of Virology (Siv-Isv), full professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at the Brescia University and director of the Laboratory of Microbiology of the Asst Spedali Civili, informs Adnkronos Salute.

In addition to genetic sequencing, "for the first time in Italy - announces the expert - we have isolated the virus carrying these mutations, which are of concern because they could confer resistance to the anti-Covid vaccines available today".

It is "a rare variant - recalls Caruso - At the moment it is evolving mainly in Africa, in Nigeria" in fact, "but there are a series of observations all over the world. For now, a few cases, which however are growing".

His arrival in Brescia was intercepted "by chance", during the analysis of biological samples taken from "a wide range of control patients".

The mutant was identified in a Covid-positive person "of African origin" and "the discovery was immediately reported to the ATS which immediately started with the tracing activities. In fact, it is necessary to verify whether it is an isolated case, that is if it was this patient who brought the variant on the territory, or if it is already circulating ", specifies the number one of the Italian virologists, assuring that" the goal is to stop any kind of spread "of the mutant as soon as possible.

"The very important thing" from the scientific point of view is that "now, having isolated the virus - explains Caruso - we will finally be able to assess whether this variant, compared to the original strain or other known mutants, shows greater aggressiveness or not and whether it is resistant. or not to antibodies induced by vaccination. Having so many mutation points on the Spike protein ", in fact, the mutant" raises particular concern for its possible resistance to vaccines "in use.

"Right now - continues the president of the Italian Virology Society - we are expanding the virus in order to study it more in depth to understand the impact of this 'Nigerian variant' from a clinical point of view and above all, crucial information especially now, on the efficacy of vaccines "currently used in the national prophylaxis campaign.

"This is particularly important - Caruso insists - because it is what we should do every time a variant appears, namely virological surveillance, which means isolating the virus and characterizing it. Because as long as we talk about" coronavirus "variants and we don't know what mean, the speech remains very vague ".

In order not to create unjustified alarmism, nor to risk underestimating an emergency, "it is necessary instead to give precise answers - warns the expert - which can only come from the isolation of the virus and the characterization of its biological activities".