Explained: IHU, the new COVID-19 variant reported by French researchers
01/5What is IHU version?
It is any other version of COVID-19 inducing coronavirus. It has forty six mutations and 37 deletions ensuing in 30 amino acid substitutions and 12 deletions. Fourteen amino acid substitutions, inclusive of N501Y and E484K, and nine deletions are positioned withinside the spike protein.
“This genotype sample caused create a brand new Pangolin lineage named B.1.640.2, that’s a phylogenetic sister institution to the antique B.1.640 lineage renamed B.1.640.1. Both lineages vary via way of means of 25 nucleotide substitutions and 33 deletions. The mutation set and phylogenetic function of the genomes received right here suggest primarily based totally on our preceding definition a brand new version we named “IHU”,” the studies take a look at undertaken via way of means of the crew says. The studies paper is but to be peer reviewed.
02/5Why is it named IHU?
The new version has been named IHU in connection with the institute to which the researchers belong.
03/5Where become it first detected?
The researchers at IHU Mediterranee Infection, who have been the primary to record this version, have related it to Cameroon in Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO), has stated that this version become first diagnosed in France in November in 12 humans withinside the southern Alps in South Africa. The first affected person become a vaccinated grownup who had back to France from a ride to Cameroon, in critical Africa.
04/5How many were inflamed so far?
As in step with the facts shared via way of means of the researchers, a complete of 12 instances being inflamed with the IHU version have come to the fore. “For twelve SARS-CoV-wonderful sufferers residing withinside the equal geographical region of southeastern France, qPCR checking out that display screen for version-related mutations confirmed an ordinary combination. The index case back from a tour in Cameroon,” the studies take a look at says.
05/5How competitive is the IHU version; what’s the transmission fee?
Researchers are but to invest at the aggressiveness of this version. On the transmission fee of this virus, the WHO has stated the IHU version has now no longer end up an awful lot of a chance because its identity in November. It become located out across the equal time while omicron become discovered, however the latter version has travelled globally and is presently a extreme contagion in contrast to the IHU version. The version “has been on our radar,” Abdi Mahamud, a WHO incident supervisor on COVID has stated.
The researchers at IHU have stated that it’s far too early to invest on virological, epidemiological or scientific capabilities of IHU version primarily based totally on 12 instances. The studies paper posted in this on medRxiv server is but to be peer reviewed.
