A South African laboratory study using Covid-19 samples from an immunosuppressed individual over six months showed the virus evolved to become more pathogenic, indicating a new variant could cause more illness than the current predominant Omicron strain.
The study, conducted by the first laboratory to test the Omicron strain against vaccines last year, used samples from a person infected with HIV. Over the six months the virus initially caused the same level of cell fusion and death as the Omicron BA.1 strain, but as it evolved those levels rose to become similar to the first version of Covid-19 identified in Wuhan in China.
The study, led by Alex Sigal at the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban, indicates the Covid-19 pathogen could continue to mutate and a new variant may cause more severe illness and death than the relatively mild Omicron strain. The study is yet to be peer reviewed and is based solely on laboratory work on samples from one individual.
Sigal and other scientists have previously postulated that variants such as Beta and Omicron — both initially identified in Southern Africa — may have evolved in immunosuppressed people such as those infected with HIV. The long time it takes for these individuals to shake off the disease allows it to mutate and become better at evading antibodies, they have said.
The study “may indicate that SARS-CoV-2 evolution in long-term infection does not have to result in attenuation,” the researchers said in their findings, which were released on Thursday. “It may indicate that a future variant could be more pathogenic than currently circulating Omicron strains.”
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Next Covid-19 strain may be more dangerous, South African study shows
Image: Bloomberg
A South African laboratory study using Covid-19 samples from an immunosuppressed individual over six months showed the virus evolved to become more pathogenic, indicating a new variant could cause more illness than the current predominant Omicron strain.
The study, conducted by the first laboratory to test the Omicron strain against vaccines last year, used samples from a person infected with HIV. Over the six months the virus initially caused the same level of cell fusion and death as the Omicron BA.1 strain, but as it evolved those levels rose to become similar to the first version of Covid-19 identified in Wuhan in China.
The study, led by Alex Sigal at the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban, indicates the Covid-19 pathogen could continue to mutate and a new variant may cause more severe illness and death than the relatively mild Omicron strain. The study is yet to be peer reviewed and is based solely on laboratory work on samples from one individual.
Sigal and other scientists have previously postulated that variants such as Beta and Omicron — both initially identified in Southern Africa — may have evolved in immunosuppressed people such as those infected with HIV. The long time it takes for these individuals to shake off the disease allows it to mutate and become better at evading antibodies, they have said.
The study “may indicate that SARS-CoV-2 evolution in long-term infection does not have to result in attenuation,” the researchers said in their findings, which were released on Thursday. “It may indicate that a future variant could be more pathogenic than currently circulating Omicron strains.”
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
READ MORE:
Measles now an imminent global threat due to pandemic, say WHO and CDC
Chinese Grand Prix to be canceled again due to Covid-19
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos