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Analysis of corona mutations in a laboratory in Marseille (archive image)
Photo: Daniel Cole / dpa
The Sars-CoV-2 pathogen is constantly changing, currently the focus is primarily on its highly contagious Omicron variant.
But it is by no means certain that the virus will not undergo further transformations.
The more often it can reproduce, the more likely it is that there are copying errors in its genome - and if these offer an evolutionary advantage over earlier variants, a new type of virus can establish itself on a broad front.
French researchers are currently providing information about a variant called B.1.640.2. In a manuscript that has not yet been reviewed by specialist colleagues, they describe that compared to the wild type of the Sars-CoV-2 pathogen, it has 23 mutations on the so-called spike protein, which the virus uses to penetrate body cells. To classify: In the Omikron variant, this value was more than 30. The mutations also include those that are associated with a better spread of the virus and a reduced protective effect of vaccinations.
One of the authors of the manuscript is the physician Didier Raoult, who is known for his controversial theses on the pandemic. In addition, the Dutch microbiologist Elisabeth Bik, who is dedicated to uncovering scientific misconduct, accused him of manipulating several publications. Raoult had taken legal action against it. Numerous scientists and research organizations subsequently expressed their solidarity with Bik in an open letter.
For the current research work, genome data from twelve patients from southern France who were infected with the variant were evaluated.
The infections were therefore traced back to a person who had traveled to France from Central African Cameroon.
The observed mutations make it seem possible in principle that B.1.640.2 is more contagious than previous variants.
However, there is currently little evidence of this in practice.
Known before Omikron
The virologist Tom Peacock from Imperial College in London, who was not involved in the manuscript of the French team, points out on Twitter that the first known genome sequences of B.1.640.2 had already been uploaded to the corresponding specialist database on November 4th - Samples from Omikron, on the other hand, only became known three weeks later.
Despite the shorter period of time, there are now more than 120,000 sequenced patient samples from Omikron, of the variant described by the French only about 20. Since the pre-Christmas period, no more have been added.
According to Peackock, the pathogen had its chance to cause problems - but apparently could not use them.
Recently, however, there had been an increase in cases in the south of France.
It is not known whether this can be at least partially attributed to the new variant.
It is clear that Omikron is currently expanding massively in France, as in all other European countries.
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