Now we live together. COVID For well over 4 years. Although there remains to be much to be learned about SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID), at the very least one thing seems clear: it's here to remain.
From the unique type of Wuhan, to Delta, to Omicron, and plenty of others in between, the virus continues to evolve.
New strains have driven repeated waves of infection and challenged doctors and scientists trying to grasp the behavior of this changing virus.
Now, we're faced with a brand new group of variants, the so-called “FLiRT” variants, which apparently A rising tide COVID infections around Australia and elsewhere. So where do they arrive from, and are they a cause for concern?
Descendants of Omicron
FLiRT is a bunch of subvariants of variables. JN.1 From the Omicron lineage.
Found in JN.1 August 2023 And announced A type of interest By the World Health Organization in December 2023. By early 2024, it had develop into probably the most dominant form in Australia and far of the remainder of the world, driving large waves of infection.
As recent forms emerge, scientists work hard to try to grasp their potential effects. This includes sequencing their genes and assessing their ability to transmit, infect and cause disease.
As late as 2023, scientists discovered a variety of subtypes of JN.1 In dirty water within the United States. Since then, these JN.1 subtypes, including KP.1.1, KP.2 and KP.3, have emerged and develop into common throughout the world.
But why the name FLiRT? Sequencing of those subtypes revealed several novel mutations within the spike protein of the virus, incl F456L, V1104L and R346T. The name FLiRT was created by combining the letters in these variations.
Maria Sabitova/Shutterstock
The spike protein is a crucial protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 that offers the virus its spiked shape and which it uses to connect to our cells. Amino acids are Basic building blocks which together form proteins and is the spike protein. 1,273 amino acids long.
Numbers discuss with the situation of the mutation within the spike protein, while letters designate the situation. Amino acid substitutions. So for instance, F456L indicates a change from F (an amino acid called phenylalanine) to L (the amino acid leucine) at position 456.
What will we learn about FLiRT's features?
The regions of the spike protein where mutations have been found are essential for 2 major reasons. The first is antibody binding, which affects the extent to which the immune system can recognize and neutralize the virus. Second, the virus binds to host cells, causing infection.
These aspects explain why some experts have suggested that FLiRT can have subtypes. More transferable from earlier COVID variants.
There are also very early suggestions that FLiRT subforms may give. Avoidance of immunity Better than the parental JN.1 type by prior infection and vaccination. However, this research has yet to be peer-reviewed (independently verified by other researchers).
In more positive news, there is no such thing as a evidence that FLiRT variants cause more severe disease than earlier variants. Still, that doesn't mean catching a FLiRT-powered covid infection is risk-free.
Overall, these are very early days by way of published research on these recent FLiRT subtypes. We will need peer-reviewed data to grasp more about FLiRT's properties.
The rise of FLiRT
I United States, FLiRT has overtaken the unique JN.1 variant because the dominant strain. The latest figures from the US suggest that actual JN.1 accounts for lower than 16% of cases.
FLiRT subtypes have recently been discovered in Australia, but they appear to be gaining traction. For example, NSW Health Data By mid-May the proportion of KP.2 and KP.3 samples was steadily increasing.
NSW Health
In other parts of the world, equivalent to the UK, FLiRT subtypes are similar. On the rise.
In Australia, because the temperature continues to drop, and we head into the winter months, so do respiratory viruses. Generally increase Rotation and case number in peak.
Therefore, it's being estimated that the variety of Covid cases will increase. And with FLiRT subtypes showing evidence of increased “fitness”, meaning they pose a stronger challenge to our body's immune defences, it is feasible they might soon develop into the dominant subtype circulating in Australia. Take up your responsibilities.
How can I stay protected?
As the FLiRT variants originated from Omicron, Current booster On offer in Australia, against Omicron XBB.1.5, it's prone to provide sufficient protection. Although there is no such thing as a guarantee that you just will probably be prevented from becoming infected, the COVID vaccines proceed to supply strong protection against severe illness. so if You are eligibleConsider getting a booster to guard yourself this winter.
SARS-CoV-2 is now An endemic virus Meaning it would proceed to flow into all over the world. To do that, the virus changes – often only barely – so as to survive.
New FLiRT subtypes are excellent examples of this, where the virus mutates sufficiently to flow into and cause disease. There isn't any suggestion yet that these subtypes cause more severe disease. They usually tend to cause people to catch COVID again.
Although the data we've got at this stage doesn't give us any particular reason to be concerned in regards to the FLiRT variant particularly, it's something we face nonetheless. Increasing COVID infection yet one more time. And we all know people who find themselves elderly or frail, for instance with medical conditions that compromise their immune systems, are at greater risk.