The hits just keep coming.
The U.S. has seen more than 24 millionCOVID-19cases and 406,000 deaths from the disease in the last 10 months.
This variant, dubbedB.1.1.7, was first found in the U.K. in September.
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This coronavirus variant is now presentin at least 60 countriesand several U.S. states.
So where does this leave us right now?
And most critically, is there any way to better protect ourselves from these concerning new coronavirus variants?
First: What exactly is a SARS-CoV-2 variant?
When it replicates, some of these letters change by mistake.
Any single letter change is a variant, explains Dr. Osmundson.
Most of these changes wont make a difference in how the virus behaves.
Some mutations may lead to an inactive virus, Dr. Osmundson says.
Very rare variants may act measurably different from the original strain.
The original strain is typically referred to as the wild key in virus.
While aviruswith even a single mutation is technically a new variant, many variants contain multiple mutations.
A letter may be different or missing altogether.
What variants are out there right now, and why are they concerning?
Were currently looking at an alphabet soup of different variants inSARS-CoV-2.
There are two garnering the most attention.
The B.1.1.7 variant contains 23 mutations that differentiate it from the wild key in virus.
The spike protein is what enables the virus to get into a persons cells and replicate, causing infection.
Dr. Osmundson agrees with this concern.
This has yet to be confirmed in animal models and across broader epidemiological data.
Tighter binding to host cells?
Higher viral titers in the nose or throat leading to more shedding?
Faster or better viral replication?
We have no data here whatsoever.
A small silver lining is that the B.1.1.7 variant does not seem to be more deadly than others circulating.
Will COVID-19 vaccines still work against these variants?
The authorized vaccines fromPfizer/BioNtechandModernatarget that important spike protein usingmRNA technology.
Though this isnt definitive proof that this variant can escape immunity, it bears watching and additional testing.
(Moderna iscurrently carrying out similar testingwith their vaccine).
Should we worry about other variants?
Dr. Hodcroft worked on an analysis of a variant in Spain,20A.EU1, that spread across Europe in summer 2020.
Instead, researchers chalked it up to human behavior, including travel.
Dr. Hodcroft notes, This shows that human behavior is incredibly important.
Another variant experts are examining is one from Brazil, B.1.1.28.
What can we do now that more concerning variants are circulating?
The virus depends on us to meet each other to make it transmit; we make that opportunity happen.
So we can take that opportunity away through our behavior.
Distribution and uptake of theauthorized vaccinesare also essential.
Get the vaccine out as fast, as widely, but as well as possible, Dr. Osmundson says.
Vaccines will hopefully become more widely available, and distribution more organized, in the coming months.
Countries should have a plan, she says.
What will they do if the variant is detected?
What levels of cases are concerning?
What actions will happen if those levels are reached?
Ultimately, its critical that westop coronavirus transmissionhowever possible.
The best way to avoid this is to stop giving the virus more hostsmeaning, peoplewhere it can evolve.
