New COVID-19 Variant ‘IHU’ Sequenced in France, Can Be More Transmissible, Vaccine Resistant…

The spike protein (red) mediates the coronavirus entry into host cells. It binds to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (blue) through its S1 subunit and then fuses viral and host membranes through the S2 subunits.

While the world is grappling with the highly infectious Omicron, strain of Covid, scientists in France have identified a potentially worrying new variant, which has 46 mutations.

Named IHU, the new B.1.640.2 variant has so far infected 12 people living in southeastern France. The first case was linked to a person with a travel history to Cameroon, western Africa, said researchers in a paper published on medRxiv.

However, experts were quick to announce that just because a new variant had been discovered, that did not necessarily mean IHU will prove as infectious as other strains, including Omicron.

Learn more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-new-covid-variant-mutations-b1986241.html

Also: https://www.cnbctv18.com/healthcare/new-covid-19-variant-ihu-can-be-more-transmissible-resistant-to-vaccines-what-we-know-so-far-12010682.htm