Several variants of the crown are currently circulating around the world. The best conditions for the omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2 to reconnect with another variant. And indeed, researchers can identify three new subtypes, one of which particularly stands out.
Researchers in Britain have discovered three new so-called recombinants. These are newly formed subtypes that arose from Omicron BA.1 and Omicron BA.2 or Delta and Omicron variants. They are referred to as Omicron XE, XF and XD. British Health Security Agency (UKHSA) researchers are currently paying special attention to Omicron XE, as data show that this recombinant spreads faster.
According to the UK Health Agency’s Virus Variants Report, a total of 763 cases of Omicron XE have been identified in the country as of 22 March 2022, with 637 in March. This is a very small proportion of total infections, but the number of XE infections in the country continues to rise, with many more samples being genetically tested than in Germany, for example. The first case of Omikron XE was registered in England on January 19 this year. So far, most cases with the omicron XE subtype, which carries three new mutations, come from this region.
Can XE become the dominant variant?
It is conceivable that Omikron XE could replace the currently dominant Omikron BA.2 variant and become the new dominant variant. Previous data indicates that Omikron XE can be up to 10% more contagious than Omikron BA.2. However, it is still too early to assess whether this subtype will really establish itself in the coming weeks. “This particular variant of XE has shown a variable growth rate, but we cannot yet confirm whether it actually has a growth advantage,” the UKHSCA senior advisor told the Sun. To date, there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about the transmissibility, severity or efficacy of the vaccine.
Although the formation of such recombinants is relatively rare, it is not uncommon or surprising to experts. Good conditions for education exist when at least two variants of a virus circulate at the same time, as is currently the case in several countries. “Such recombinants arise when more than one variant infects and replicates the same person in the same cells,” Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, told The Guardian in connection with the formation of Deltakron, which carries the XD technical code.
According to the researchers, Omikron XE is a combination of the two Omikron variants BA.1 and BA.2. A combination of Delta and Omicron BA.1 occurred in the other two recombinants XF and XD, with 38 cases detected so far in the UK and 49 cases detected mainly in France. However, as neither XF nor XD are spreading significantly, experts assume that they will not prevail, but, like many other subtypes, will simply disappear again after a brief appearance. However, experts agree that it is important to be constantly aware of the formation of variants and the risk they pose.