Researchers at Texas A&M University have identified a variant of the COVID-19 virus that is said to have genetic markers that suggest potential antibody resistance, according to a university statement.
“Currently we do not know the full significance of this variant, but it has a combination of similar mutations with other variants of concern that can be reported internationally,” said Ben Neuman, a chief virologist at the university’s Global Health Research Complex. This variant combines separately associated genetic markers with rapid spread, severe disease and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies.
The so-called BV-1 is linked to variant B.1.1.7 which caused an increase in the United Kingdom, the university said.
Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at UCSF, said she is not worried about this variant yet because she has not seen the actual peer-reviewed data that it is resistant to antibodies.
“It was initially reported that B.1.351 [the variant first identified in South Africa], and other variants were resistant to antibodies, but these were reversed by other reports and 6-month data on the launch of the Pfizer vaccine, which showed 100% efficacy against severe diseases, even with variant B.1.352 “, a Gandhi explained in an e-mail.Furthermore, the variants are covered by vaccines, especially when considering the responses of T cells generated by vaccines, which are able to neutralize different variants.
Texas A&M researchers identified a single case of the variant at the university’s Global Health Research Complex in a saliva sample taken from a Texas A&M student in early March.
The variant was named for “Brazos Valley”, the region with seven counties in which Texas A&M is located.
As the United States continues to release vaccines, worrying variations are spreading and triggering increases in some states. California has so far avoided a significant increase in cases. The seven-day positivity rate in the state was 1.5% since Wednesday, among the lowest in the country.