#Lineage-specific #pathogenicity, immune #evasion, and virological #features of #SARS-CoV-2 #BA286 / #JN1 and #EG51 / HK.3

Source: Nature Communications, AbstractSARS-CoV-2 JN.1 with an additional L455S mutation on spike when compared with its parental variant BA.2.86 has outcompeted all earlier variants to become the dominant circulating variant. Recent studies investigated the immune resistance of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 but additional factors are speculated to contribute to…

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/09/lineage-specific-pathogenicity-immune-evasion-and-virological-features-of-sars-cov-2-ba286-jn1-and-eg51-hk-3/

Structural basis for #receptor-binding domain mobility of the #spike in #SARS-CoV-2 #BA286 and #JN1

Source: Nature Communications, AbstractSince 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has undergone mutations, resulting in pandemic and epidemic waves. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, crucial for cellular entry, binds to the ACE2 receptor exclusively when its receptor-binding domain (RBD) adopts the up-conformation. However, whether ACE2 also interacts with the RBD in the down-conformation to…

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/07/structural-basis-for-receptor-binding-domain-mobility-of-the-spike-in-sars-cov-2-ba286-and-jn1/

Immune #escape and attenuated #severity associated with the #SARS-CoV-2 #BA286 / #JN1 #lineage

Source: Nature Communications, AbstractThe SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 lineage, and its sublineage JN.1 in particular, achieved widespread transmission in the US during winter 2023–24. However, this surge in infections was not accompanied by COVID-19 hospitalizations and mortality commensurate with prior waves. To understand shifts in COVID-19 epidemiology associated with JN.1…

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/03/immune-escape-and-attenuated-severity-associated-with-the-sars-cov-2-ba286-jn1-lineage/

Structural #basis for the #evolution and #antibody #evasion of #SARS-CoV-2 #BA286 and #JN1 #subvariants https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51973-8

Here, the authors evaluate the neutralization susceptibilities of BA.2.86 and JN.1 and determine the structural basis for binding to the ACE2 receptor and monoclonal neutralizing antibodies, revealing their evolution and antibody evasion mechanism.

https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a61423582/covid-summer-wave-2024/

A 'double-humped' summer season. That must be a polite way of saying 'double-fucked' as the United States is taking Covid at both ends.

#Covid
#SpitroastSummer
#BA286
#Fauxmicron

Relative #vaccine #protection, #disease #severity, and #symptoms associated with the #SarsCoV2 #omicron #subvariant #BA286 and descendant #JN1 in #Denmark: a nationwide observational study https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00220-2/fulltext?rss=yes

Although less effective against the new variants, XBB.1.5 vaccination remains protective and reduces the risk of infection and COVID-19 disease.

Molecular Evolution #MolEvol identified adaptive evolution of #ba286 lineage in August 2023 (reminder: 32 non-synonymous substitutions, including 22 in Spike, and only 11 synonyms) while still at very low frequency. #ba286 has now come to dominate globally 👇

https://ecoevo.social/@firefoxx66@mstdn.science/111964032240034358

Virological characteristics of the #SARS-CoV-2 #BA286 #variant, Cell: https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(24)00005-2?rss=yes

• BA.2.86 is more transmissible than the currently predominant #EG51
• The sensitivity of BA.2.86 to #antiviral #drugs is comparable to that of EG.5.1
• The #replication efficiency of BA.2.86 in vitro and in vivo is lower than that of EG.5.1
• In hamsters, BA.2.86 is less #pathogenic than EG.5.1 and the parental BA.2

#Memory T #cells effectively recognize the #SARS-CoV-2 hypermutated #BA286 #variant, Cell: https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(23)00505-X?rss=yes

• SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific T cells are profiled in healthy individuals and CLL patients
• T cell cross-recognition of mutated BA.2.86 spike epitopes is largely preserved
• BA.2.86-reactive T cells display features of high functional capacity

Postpandemic #memory T #cell response to #SARS-CoV-2 is durable, broadly targeted, & cross-reactive to hypermutated #BA286 #variant, Cell: https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(23)00498-5?rss=yes

-- Spike-specific T cell memory responses are maintained into post-pandemic period
• T cell cross-recognition is preserved against highly mutated variants such as BA.2.86
• Even prior to Omicron infection, reactivity to Omicron sub-lineages is conserved
• Robust nucleocapsid- and membrane-specific T cells enlarge total T cell response