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JN.1, a new covid-19 variant discovered in August 2023, has rapidly spread throughout the world, showing significant evolutionary changes from previous strains. This development requires continued vigilance and adaptation in global health strategies. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
JN.1 covid 19 Difference, at the end of 2023, shows a big change in VirusAn evolution in focus on the importance of sustainable global health efforts.
since found in August 2023has the JN.1 covid variant. It is widely distributed. It became dominant in Australia around the worldDriving the The biggest wave of covid It has been seen in many states for at least the past year.
World Health Organization (WHO) assigned JN.1 as a “difference of interest” in December 2023 and January he insisted. COVID is an ongoing global health threat that causes “overwhelmingly” preventable disease and can have long-term health consequences.
“#Covid It’s still a global health threat, and it’s causing too much of a burden when we can prevent it.
Five, ten, years later, what will we see when we look at heart disease, lung disease (neurological disease)? We don’t know.”
– @mvankerkhove of @World Health Organization pic.twitter.com/yB73YXekhb— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) January 12, 2024
JN.1 is significant. First as a pathogen – it’s a surprisingly new-looking version. SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes covid) and is rapidly displacing other circulating strains (micron XBB).
It is also important because of what it says about the evolution of Covid. Typically, SARS-CoV-2 variants are the same as before, accumulating a few mutations at a time to give the virus a meaningful advantage over its parent.
But, occasionally, as seen when Omicron (B.1.1.529) was launched two years ago, variables appear out of the blue that behave differently than before. This has a major impact on disease and transmission.
Until now, it was unclear whether this “step-change” evolution would happen again, especially with the continued success of the ever-improving Omicron variants.
Because JN.1 is so different and brings new waves of infections, many of the World Health Organization He recognizes JN.1 as the next variant of stress in the Greek letter itself. Either way, with JN.1 we’ve entered a new chapter in the outbreak.
Where did JN.1 come from?
The story of JN.1 (or BA.2.86.1.1) begins with its arrival. Parent’s race BA.2.86 around mid-2023, which spawned the much earlier (2022) omicron sub-variant BA.2.
Chronic infection It can go on for months (if not years in some people) without resolution.
In people who are chronically infected, the virus tries to remain silent and eventually acquires multiple mutations that cause it to evade the immune system and remain in that person. For BA.2.86, this resulted More than 30 mutations Spike protein (a protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 that allows it to stick to our cells).
The number of infections occurring worldwide creates room for major virus evolution. SARS-CoV-2 is ongoing. A very high rate of mutation. Accordingly, JN.1 itself is already Mutation and growth as soon as .
How does JN.1 differ from other variants?
BA.2.86 and now JN.1 are doing two way laboratory studies in a seemingly unique way.
The first is related to how the virus suppresses the immune system. JN.1 inherited More than 30 mutations In its sharp protein. He also discovered a new mutation, L455SAntibodies (part of the immune system’s immune response) reduce their ability to bind to the virus and prevent infection.
The second involves changes in the JN.1 route should And they reproduce in our cells. Without delving into molecular details, recent high-profile laboratory-based research from united states And Europe BA.2.86 was observed to enter cells from the lung in a manner similar to pre-micron variants such as delta. However, in contrast, the primary work of the Kirby Institute in Australia Using different techniques It acquires replication properties that are better aligned with the Omicron lineage.
Further research is necessary to resolve these differential cell entry findings because of the implications of how the virus chooses to replicate in the body, which may affect the severity and spread of disease.
Whatever the case, these findings show that JN.1 (and SARS-CoV-2 in general) is not just evading our immune system, but finding new ways to infect cells and infect them effectively. We need to study more how this plays out in humans and how it affects clinical outcomes.
The JN.1 has some features that set it apart from other variants.
Is JN.1 more difficult?
The step-change evolution of BA.2.86, combined with the immuno-suppressive properties in JN.1, gave the virus The benefit of global growth In the year Beyond the XBB.1-specific lineages we encountered in 2023.
Despite these characteristics, our evidence The adaptive immune system It can still detect and respond effectively to BA.286 and JN.1. Modern monovalent vaccines, tests and treatments They remain effective On JN.1.
There are two components to “severity”: first, if it is more “intrinsically” severe (a more severe infection with no immunity), and second, if the virus is highly prevalent and causes more illness and death simply because of infection. More people. The latter is actually on JN.1.
What next?
We don’t know if this virus is on the path to becoming “the next common cold” or not; Nor do we have any idea what that time frame might be. While Examining the tracks The four historical corona viruses give us a hint of where we are going, this should only be considered as an alternative path. The outbreak of JN.1 shows that we are facing ongoing outbreaks with Covid and this seems to be the way forward for the foreseeable future.
We are now in a new pandemic phase: post-emergency. However, Covid-19 remains a major infectious disease worldwide that causes both acute infections and injuries Long covid. We must rethink the dangers of accepting the wave of infection at the societal and individual level.
In general, this emphasizes the importance General strategies to reduce the spread and impact of CovidAt low pressure (eg Clean indoor air interventions).
They are people. He advised To continue to take proactive measures to protect themselves and those around them.
We are critical to better pandemic preparedness and an improved response to emerging threats. Continue international monitoring. The underrepresentation of low- and middle-income countries faces a blind spot. Intensive research is also crucial.
Written by:
- Suman Majumdar – Associate Professor and Chief Health Officer – Covid and Health Emergencies, Burnett Institute
- Brendan Crabb – Director and CEO, Burnett Institute
- Emma Pakula – Senior Research and Policy Officer, Burnett Institute
- Stuart Turville – Associate Professor, Immunovirology and Pathogenesis Programme, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney
Taken from an originally published article The conversation.