Delta Plus Coronavirus Variant
Source : Indian Express
GS II : Health

Content for Delta Plus Coronavirus Variant Article

1. What is Delta Plus Variant ?
2. Where does it Affected ?
3. Corona Virus Variants

Why in News ?

India has found around 40 cases of the Delta coronavirus variant carrying a mutation that appears to make it more transmissible, and advised states to increase testing.

Key Facts

• What is Delta Plus Variant ?
  • Delta Plus Variant is a sub-lineage of the Delta variant first detected in India.

    

  • It has acquired the spike protein mutation called K417N.
  • This type also found in the Beta variant first identified in South Africa.
  • Concern : Mutation, coupled with other existing features of the Delta variant could make it more transmissible.
  • Variant does not seem to be common, currently accounting for only a small fraction of the Delta sequences.
• Where does it Affected ?
  • At least 197 cases had been found from 11 countries — Britain (36), Canada (1), India (8), Japan (15), Nepal (3), Poland (9), Portugal (22), Russia (1), Switzerland (18), Turkey (1), the United States (83).
  • India , around 40 cases of the variant have been observed in the states of Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.

Corona Virus Variants

• The variants emerging from the B.1.617 lineage are designated as Variants Under Investigation (VUI).
  • Three variants first identified in India are called VUI-21APR-01, VUI-21APR-02 and VUI-21APR-03) by (Public Health England) PHE.
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies variants into three categories– variant of interest (VOI), variant of concern (VOC) and variant of high consequence.
  • B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.427, and B.1.429 variants circulating in the US are classified as variants of concern.
• Four emerging variants of coronavirus
  • • B.1.617.3 a sibling of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2)
    • B.1.1.318, which has 14 mutations
    • Lambda (C.37)
    • Delta-plus B.1.617.2.1 or AY.1 strain

Variants Under Investigation (VUI) : A variant with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes to receptor binding, reduced neutralization by antibodies generated against previous infection or vaccination, reduced efficacy of treatments, potential diagnostic impact, or predicted increase in transmissibility or disease severity.

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