What is IHU variant?
It is another variant of COVID-19 inducing coronavirus. It has 46 mutations and 37 deletions resulting in 30 amino acid substitutions and 12 deletions. Fourteen amino acid substitutions, including N501Y and E484K, and 9 deletions are located in the spike protein.
"This genotype pattern led to create a new Pangolin lineage named B.1.640.2, which is a phylogenetic sister group to the old B.1.640 lineage renamed B.1.640.1. Both lineages differ by 25 nucleotide substitutions and 33 deletions. The mutation set and phylogenetic position of the genomes obtained here indicate based on our previous definition a new variant we named “IHU”," the research study undertaken by the team says. The research paper is yet to be peer reviewed.
Why is it named IHU?
The new variant has been named IHU in reference to the institute to which the researchers belong.
Where was it first detected?
The researchers at IHU Mediterranee Infection, who were the first to report this variant, have linked it to Cameroon in Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO), has said that this variant was first identified in France in November in 12 people in the southern Alps in South Africa. The first patient was a vaccinated adult who had returned to France from a trip to Cameroon, in central Africa.
How many have been infected so far?
As per the data shared by the researchers, a total of 12 cases being infected with the IHU variant have come to the fore. “For twelve SARS-CoV-positive patients living in the same geographical area of southeastern France, qPCR testing that screen for variant-associated mutations showed an atypical combination. The index case returned from a travel in Cameroon,” the research study says.
How aggressive is the IHU variant; what’s the transmission rate?
Researchers are yet to speculate on the aggressiveness of this variant. On the transmission rate of this virus, the WHO has said the IHU variant has not become much of a threat since its identification in November. It was found out around the same time when omicron was discovered, but the latter variant has travelled globally and is currently a serious contagion unlike the IHU variant. The variant "has been on our radar," Abdi Mahamud, a WHO incident manager on COVID has said.
The researchers at IHU have said that it is too early to speculate on virological, epidemiological or clinical features of IHU variant based on 12 cases. The research paper published on this on medRxiv server is yet to be peer reviewed.
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