New Covid-19 variant can infect deep in the lungs and cause severe illness

So far, health experts say new Covid-19 variants can spread faster and escape the immune system more easily, according to the Times Of India .

However, a recent study has shed light on something more serious.

New Covid-19 variant can infect cells in the lower lung and cause severe illness

According to research published in the scientific journal Cell , one of the new Covid-19 variants that is now dominant in some countries can infect deep in the lungs and is able to bind to the host cell membrane more effectively - two characteristics that are associated with severe disease symptoms.

Which Covid-19 variant is it?

The researchers studied the Pirola variant, also known as BA.2.86. It is the ancestor of the JN.1 variant that is now spreading rapidly in many countries and has about 60 more spike protein mutations than the original coronavirus. It also has 30 more mutations than the BA.2 variant and the XBB.1.5 variant.

The Pirola variant or BA.2.86 can infect cells deep in the lungs, according to the Times Of India.

In the US, JN.1 accounts for 62% of recent Covid-19 infections.

BA.2.86 appears to have increased the ability to infect lung epithelial cells more than other Omicron variants, so that's a bit worrying, said lead study author Shan Lu Liu, PhD, of the Department of Infection and Immunity at the University of Florida School of Medicine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified BA.2.86 and its subtypes as “variants of concern.” In the United States, JN.1 accounts for 62% of recent Covid-19 cases.

Monitoring for variants is important

We know that coronaviruses are prone to viral reassortment, which leads to new variants with a huge number of mutations that can increase the ability to evade immunity as well as the severity of the disease. That is why monitoring variants remains important, said Professor Liu.

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