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 The new variant, known as B.1.526, was first identified in samples
collected in New York in November, and by mid-February represented
about 12% of cases, researchers at Columbia University Vagelos
College of Physicians and Surgeons, said on Wednesday.
The variant was also described in research published online this
week by the California Institute of Technology. Neither study has
been reviewed by outside experts.
The Columbia researchers said an analysis of publicly available
databases did not show a high prevalence of coronavirus variants
recently identified in South Africa and Brazil in case samples from
New York City and surrounding areas.
"Instead we found high numbers of this home-grown lineage,” Dr.
Anne-Catrin Uhlemann, assistant professor in the division of
infectious diseases at Columbia University's College of Physicians
and Surgeons, said in a statement.
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 The Columbia study found that
B.1.526 shares some worrying characteristics
with B.1.351, the variant first identified in
South Africa, and P.1., which was first
identified in Brazil. Several studies have
suggested that those new variants are more
resistant to some existing vaccines than earlier
versions of the coronavirus. The
researchers said the main concern is a change in one area of the
virus’ spike protein, called E484K, that is present in all three
variants. The E484K mutation is believed to weaken the body’s immune
response to the virus.
Studies have shown that recently launched coronavirus vaccines are
still likely to neutralize the virus and protect against severe
illness, even for infections with new variants. Vaccine makers are
also working to develop booster shots to combat mutated versions of
the virus.
(Reporting by Deena Beasley; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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