Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies these four mutations as endangered species. They are the alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants.
In addition, four other varieties, Eta, Iota, Kappa and Lambada, have also been named for consideration. The Lambda strain, first detected in Peru in recent weeks, has attracted the attention of various species due to its rapid spread.
Lambda is the leading species of the Andean nation with the highest per capita mortality rate in the world and has spread to at least 28 other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and the United Kingdom.
The Lambda variety was first discovered in Peru last December. It is a variation of the Corona virus novel, which was first reported in the country in August 2020.
The exact origin of the Lambda species, formerly known as the Andean strain, is unclear, but scientists say it originated in South America. According to the National Institutes of Health in Peru, lambda has grown to represent 80 percent of all patients in Peru in the past three months.
“When we discovered it, it didn’t get much attention,” said Pablo Sukayama, a physician in molecular microbiology at the Kaitano Herredia University in Lima and documenting Lambda’s emergence.
“But we continued to process the samples and by March it was 50 percent of the samples in Lima. By April, it was 80 percent of samples in Peru.
According to Sukayama, the Lambda adventure was not initially a warning because new Victoria are prevalent in places with high infection rates. Latin America and the Caribbean make up eight percent of the global population, while the United States accounts for 20 percent of the world’s COVID cases, according to a June 24 report by the Congressional Research Service.
“But in May, Chile and Peru asked the World Health Organization to consider this species and add it to its list of species of interest. In mid-June, the World Health Organization recognized it and labeled it Lambda. According to the data, Lambda Victoria has already reached 28 countries.
Recent research on lambda strains has registered several mutations in its spike proteins that are part of the virus that makes contact with human cells, binds to them and then infects them.
According to a study released in July by a team from New York University’s Grosman Medical School, mutations observed in spike proteins may “increase the likelihood of transmission, and current vaccines may reduce safety”. It is mentioned on the oRxiv medical website.
However, Soto-Rifo warned that the true effects of the mutations were unclear. Because we don’t have all the resources to do that, ”he said.
Together with a team of scientists, Soto-Rifo conducted preliminary studies – not yet co-reviewed – to assess the impact of the Chinese-developed coronavac vaccine on Lambda vicaria. The results showed that Lambda was able to neutralize the antibodies generated by the vaccine.
Soto-Rifo said part of the vaccine’s effectiveness can be measured not only by the immune response, but also by the responses of T cells that stimulate anti-antibody production and help fight off infected cells.
“These results were to be expected,” Soto-Rifo said. “The virus has changed, and the vaccine may not be as effective as the original virus, but it does mean that the vaccine is no longer effective.
Information from the Al Jazeera website.