Corona is no longer an issue for most of us. Researchers are now sounding the alarm about a new corona variant: Acrux – XBB.2.3. is on the rise.
Munich – The Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus continues to mutate. It's in his nature. XBB.2.3, also known as Acuux, is now on the radar of scientists. The new Corona variant is said to be particularly contagious. Researchers are worried. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently added XBB.2.3 to its watch list.
Acrux – XBB.2.3.: New Corona variant apparently particularly contagious
Acrux – XBB.2.3: The new coronavirus variant (symbolic photo) is "under surveillance". © imago
"The variant is probably the fastest of the currently circulating XBB clan," tweeted Indian physician Vipin Vashishtha, who is also a member of the WHO vaccine group, at the end of April. XBB.2.3 has the potential to dethrone the Arcturus variant (XBB.1.16). Since May 17, 2023, Acrux has been under surveillance by the WHO (variants under monitoring, VUM) along with six other corona variants (as of May 25, 2023).
Omicron sublineage | Nickname | WHO coronavirus classification (as of May 24, 2023) |
---|---|---|
XBB.1.5 | Octopuses | Variant of interest, VOI |
XBB.1.9.1 | Hyperion | Watch |
XBB.1.6 | Acterus | Variant of interest, VOI |
XBB.2.3 | Acrux | Watch |
Acrux is already circulating in 53 countries. The first cases appeared in India in December 2022 and have been increasing significantly since March. In Germany, XBB.2.3 does not yet play a role. Acrux does not yet appear in the weekly reports of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). However, this may change.
"Arcux comes with a highly evasive mutation S:T478K, from the deadly Delta variant," Vashishtha tweeted. Canadian expert T. Rayan Gregory is also concerned. "It is likely that in addition to XBB.1.5 (Kraken), XBB.1.9.1 (Hyperion) and XBB.1.6 (Acterus), they will hear more about another XBB descendant, XBB.2.3. To facilitate communication, we give it the nickname 'Acrux', like the star."
By the way, Acrux is the brightest star in the constellation of the Southern Cross. The name is simply composed of Alpha and Crux. Now the name Acrux shines for the newest star in the Corona sky.
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XBB.2.3: Is the new Coroana variant Acrux dangerous?
The new XXB coronavirus variant is a subtype of the Omicron variant. In addition, Acrux is a recombination of two Omicron sublineages (BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75).
Acrux may be more contagious than its predecessor Acterus (XBB.1.6) and, according to Indian physician Vashishtha, has four mutations:
- Spike mutations: S:D253G and S:P521S
- ORF mutations: ORF1a:G2091S and ORF7a:A13V
- Beyond XBB.2, Acrux has spike mutations P521S and S486P
These mutations can presumably trick the immune system and increase the number of infections. Whether Acrux will actually become a problem remains to be seen. Again and again, subvariants spread in countries, but do not prevail in others. And, even if XBB.2.3 is more contagious, the subtype does not necessarily have to be more dangerous. So far, there is no evidence of a stronger disease-causing ability for XXB variants compared to the predecessors of the family.
Acturus and "Kraken": Corona variants are currently "variants of interest" according to the WHO
In Germany, the Omicron recombinant XBB.1.5 – also known as Kraken – is currently dominant (80 percent), according to the RKI weekly report. According to the European Disease Control Agency (ECDC), the XBB.1.5 sublineage poses a low risk to the general population, writes the RKI. "For the listed sublineages, as in previous weeks, no increase in disease severity is observed with increasing prevalence."
Among the coronaviruses, XBB.1.5 has already landed at the next level at WHO. The variant is classified as a "variants of interest" (VOI) by the authorities in Geneva, as is Arcturus (XBB.1.16).
The latest Omicron subvariant XBB.2.3. with their additional mutations is now being observed. Because, even if a corona infection is apparently harmless, it can have serious consequences for health. Children have a 57 percent increased risk of developing diabetes after infection, according to a recent study. (ml)