new antibody-resistant variant in Texas

DJ The new Texas variant BV-1 may evade part of the immunity respons. [url]https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/united-states-ab/united-states-covid-19-sars-cov-2-september-13-2020-may-31-2021/913370-new-antibody-resistant-coronavirus-variant-discovered-in-texas-bv-1-variant[/url] or https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/united-states-ab/united-states-covid-19-sars-cov-2-september-13-2020-may-31-2021/913370-new-antibody-resistant-coronavirus-variant-discovered-in-texas-bv-1-variant .

[url]https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/New-antibody-resistant-coronavirus-variant-16114754.php[/url] or https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/New-antibody-resistant-coronavirus-variant-16114754.php ; Researchers said the student tested positive for the virus for about a month, “indicating the variant may cause a longer lasting infection than is typical of COVID-19 for adults ages 18-24.”

[url]https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/scientists-at-texas-am-identify-new-variant-of-covid-19/2611118/[/url] or https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/scientists-at-texas-am-identify-new-variant-of-covid-19/2611118/; 

"We do not at present know the full significance of this variant, but it has a combination of mutations similar to other internationally notifiable variants of concern," Global Health Research Complex Chief Virologist Ben Neuman said. "This variant combines genetic markers separately associated with rapid spread, severe disease and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies."

The lab first detected the BV-1 variant in a sample that tested positive on March 5, the university said. The sample was later retested and confirmed at a federally regulated lab.

Officials said the student tested positive again on March 25 before testing negative on April 9.

[url]https://today.tamu.edu/2021/04/19/texas-a-genome-suggests-potential-resistance-to-antibodies/[/url] or https://today.tamu.edu/2021/04/19/texas-a-genome-suggests-potential-resistance-to-antibodies/; 

Although found in only one individual who had only mild symptoms, the Texas A&M scientists decided they should share information about the variant with scientists across the globe.

That’s because published cell culture-based experiments from other labs have shown several neutralizing antibodies are ineffective in controlling other variants with the same genetic markers as BV-1.

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BV-1 is related to the United Kingdom (UK) variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The “BV” stands for “Brazos Valley,” the seven-county region of Texas where Texas A&M and GHRC are located.

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GHRC first detected BV-1 in a saliva sample taken from a Texas A&M student as part of the university’s ongoing COVID-19 testing program. The sample tested positive at GHRC on March 5. It was re-tested and confirmed at a federally regulated lab at CHI St. Joseph Regional Hospital. The student resides off-campus, but is active in on-campus organizations. The student was given Texas A&M’s general reporting guidelines.

The student later provided a second sample that tested positive on March 25, indicating the variant may cause a longer lasting infection than is typical of COVID-19 for adults ages 18-24. A third sample obtained on April 9 was negative and revealed no evidence of virus.

The student presented mild cold-like symptoms in early to mid-March that never progressed in severity and were fully resolved by April 2.

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GHRC also deposited its sequence data on BV-1 with GISAID, the Munich-based science initiative that collects SARS-CoV-2 sequences from around the world. The official name of the BV-1 variant is hCoV-19/USA/TX-GHRC-BV1-EQ4526591/2021. It is among thousands of variants scientists have found worldwide.

Neuman said GHRC will watch closely for more cases involving BV-1, given its potentially concerning genetic make-up. The research complex has found scores of SARS-CoV-2 mutations in recent weeks through an especially widespread genetic sequencing program.

While many U.S. labs limit sequencing to severe COVID-19 cases, Texas A&M is casting a wider net, including asymptomatic students, to find concerning variants before they cause severe illnesses.

[url]https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/texas-has-a-new-coronavirus-variant-heres-what-we-know/[/url] or https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/texas-has-a-new-coronavirus-variant-heres-what-we-know/ ; 

Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex’s chief virologist, Benjamin Neuman, tells Texas Standard that he and fellow researchers recently found variant BV-1, named after the Brazos Valley, in an A&M student with mild COVID-19 symptoms. The researchers have identified two other variants – BV-2 and 3 – though Neuman says they’re most focused on the potential impact of the first one.

The risks are still being determined, but Neuman says letting people know that these variants exist is an important “early-warning system” to stop their spread.

DJ-Lotst of questions...mild illness, long time spreading the virus ? Young age=more social active=more cases ? Why only just one case of BV-1 ? (BV-2 and 3 look different ?) Could it be much more widespread but only give mild symptoms ? It reminds me also of fall/autumn 2019 "cold" cough-that was a bit different then "normal"-coughing NOT sneezing...?

Roni3470, you may be missing this  antibody resistant variant may be a step towards a resistant form of Covid19 able to infect people over and over again ? 

And very likely with much severe disease...the student may have been lucky...It is not fully clear where this UK-variant linked form did come from...how widespread it may be since it is giving mild symptoms-for several weeks, possibly also worrying-prolonged virus spread...If hosts spread virus for weeks it is getting even harder to contain this pandemic...

Finland had a variant that evaded PCR-testing...the UK variant evaded one of the three segments tested for with most used PCR tests...If there is a variant giving (at first) no/mild symptoms, evading most testing, spreading for weeks and slowly making some people more ill that would be a nightmare..

We lost radar detecting a virus that can work as a time bomb with people spreading the virus undetected maybe for over a month...in such a scenario...

Does this answer your question ?