The genome of the new strain has the ability to rapidly spread, severe disease, and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies, scientists suggested.
In the United States, a new strain of coronavirus, known as BV-1, has been isolated, whose genome indicates its likely resistance to antibodies. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the Global Health Research Complex in the field of medicine at Texas A&M University.
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The new strain was found in only one person, he had mild symptoms of the disease. However, scientists believe that this mutation is potentially dangerous for humanity, so they decided to report their discovery.
This variant combines genetic markers separately associated with rapid spread, severe disease and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies
said Ben Neumann, chief virologist at the Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex.
BV-1 is related to the United Kingdom (UK) variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The “BV” stands for “Brazos Valley,” the seven-county region of Texas where Texas A&M and GHRC are located.
“Though we may not yet understand the full significance of BV-1, the variant highlights an ongoing need for rigorous surveillance and genomic testing, including among young adults with no symptoms or only mild symptoms,” says Neumann.
At the same time, experiments in other laboratories have shown the ineffectiveness of antibodies against viruses with the same markers. The new strain is genetically close to the British coronavirus mutation.