What do we know about the lambda strain of the emerging coronavirus “Covid-19”, what are its symptoms, and are vaccines effective against it? The answers are in this comprehensive report.

The Lambda dynasty is also written as "lambda", and is drawn as uppercase Λ and lowercase λ.

Peru has currently recorded the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19 per capita, and out of every 100,000 inhabitants of Peru, 596 people died from the Corona virus.

One of the main reasons for the high number is due to the appearance of the lambda mutant, which currently accounts for 97% of cases in Peru, according to a report published on the website of the World Economic Forum.

The lambda strain is also known as lineage C.37.

According to the World Health Organization, the lambda variant has been found in 29 countries, and the "strain" variant contains many mutations, which can increase transmissibility and risk, and may reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations against it.

The lambda strain was initially reported in the capital, Lima, in August 2020, and by April 2021 it represented 97% of all coronavirus strains in Peru.

What are the symptoms of lambda strain?

According to the Times of India, the symptoms of the lambda strain appear to be the same as the usual symptoms of COVID-19 such as:

  • cough

  • High temperature

  • loss of sense of taste

  • loss of sense of smell

  • body pain

  • shortness of breath

It is advised to monitor these symptoms closely and consult a doctor as needed.

On 14 June, the World Health Organization declared lambda to be a "global variant of interest", then Public Health England followed suit on 23 June, describing it as a "variant under investigation" because " its international expansion and many notable breakthroughs."

Unusual combination

Many scientists talk about an "unusual combination" of mutations in lambda, which might make it more transmissible.

The lambda strain has seven mutations in the spike protein, the bumps on the virus' outer envelope that help it attach to and invade cells.

These mutations may facilitate lambda binding to cells and make it more difficult for antibodies to attach to and neutralize the virus.

Among the other mutations in lambda, there is a unique mutation recorded in other strains of corona such as "Delta", "Delta Plus", "Epsilon" and "Kappa".

There is a "L452Q" mutation of lambda that has not been seen before in any species, according to National Geographic.

A preliminary study from New York University's Grossman School of Medicine looked at the effect of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against the lambda variant, and found a 2- to 3-fold reduction in vaccine-derived antibodies compared to the original virus. Significant loss of neutralizing antibody.

The researchers concluded that mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, would likely still be effective against the lambda variant.

Virus neutralization

Researchers from the University of Chile also investigated the effect of Sinovac's vaccine, also known as CoronaVac, against the lambda variant, and found a 3-fold decrease in neutralizing antibodies compared to the original variant.

The fact that these two studies found neutralization (the ability of vaccine-induced dressings to neutralize the lambda coronavirus) against the lambda strain, although partially potent, is promising, for several reasons, not least, that this is only one aspect of the immune response resulting from Vaccination, according to a report in The Conversation, so it's early to say that vaccines aren't effective against the lambda variant.

In general, lambda is a strain of concern, as are all forms of coronavirus.

But so far, there is no reason to believe that Lambda, in particular, will do more harm, according to a report in C|net.