COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Researchers at Texas A&M University have identified a new COVID-19 variant that appears to show resistance to coronavirus antibodies.
Only one case of the emergent strain, which originated in Texas, has been confirmed, and researchers at the Texas A&M Global Health Research Complex believe it is related to the variant first detected in the United Kingdom that was recently declared the dominant strain of the virus in the United States.
The variant, called BV-1 for its Brazos Valley origin, was detected in a saliva sample taken from a Texas A&M student in early March, the school confirmed in a news release.
“We do not at present know the full significance of this variant, but it has a combination of mutations similar to other internationally notifiable variants of concern,” Global Health Research Complex Chief Virologist Ben Neuman stated.
Specifically, Neuman said that BV-1 “combines genetic markers separately associated with rapid spread, severe disease and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies.”
The student with the confirmed case showed mild flu-like symptoms for nearly a month, suggesting this new variant may cause a longer than normal infection in young adults, KXAN reported.
Meanwhile, the university said that BV-1 is one of thousands of global variants detected to date and that scientists would continue to look for more cases, KXAS reported.
“Sequencing helps to provide an early warning system for new variants,” Neuman stated. “Though we may not yet understand the full significance of BV-1, the variant highlights an ongoing need for rigorous surveillance and genomic testing, including among young adults with no symptoms or only mild symptoms.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed only five COVID-19 variants to date, including the dominant U.S. strain first detected in the U.K., as well as strains originating in South Africa and Brazil, and two different strains that originated in California.
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Cox Media Group
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