The Mu variant of the Covid-19 virus – first found in Colombia early this year – has now been classed as a variant of interest.
As the virus changes, the World Health Organization aims to pick up early signs – and consider the risk – of possible variants of interest. At present, five variants of interest have been pinpointed (Eta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda, Mu), while four others have been upgraded to variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta).
The SMC asked experts to explain how variants are labelled, and what might spark redesign of vaccines.
Dr David Welch, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Computational Evolution and School of Computer Science, University of Auckland, comments:
“Variants arise as the virus constantly mutates. Sometimes a mutation or collection of mutations may make the virus more transmissible, more virulent (make people sicker), or more able to evade our immune systems and vaccinations. Variants that are suspected of having these properties based on their early spread, or because they carry mutations that are known to cause problems, are classified as Variants of Interest (VoI). Variants that are proven to have these properties are classed as Variants of Concern (VoC). There are also a number of other variants that haven’t reached the evidential threshold that are being carefully monitored.
“Mu has just been upgraded to a VoI by the WHO. The reason is that it carries a number of mutations that have been observed in other variants that can help the virus evade immunity. It has also spread fairly widely since it was first observed at the beginning of the year. Being a VoI it is not yet clear that it has greater ability to evade immunity. There is also no evidence or much suggestion that it has higher transmissibility than other variants.”
How many variants of interest have been re-classed as no longer of interest?
“Three that were classed as VoIs in March this year have been taken off the list (Epsilon, Theta and Zeta). But only four variants have been classed as VoCs so far and those are the only ones we are sure are more dangerous.”
What would shift a variant of interest to one of concern?
“The VoI/VoC difference is really about evidence. With VoIs there are reasons to suspect they might cause problems, whereas with VoCs there is enough evidence to be sure they are more dangerous. Two of the VoCs – Alpha and Delta – have been classed as such primarily because they are more transmissible.”
Is it getting easier to spot variants of concern earlier?
“We need to sequence virus to determine which variant they are – but sequencing is still patchy around the world. So although we now know some of the features to look out for, we are still not collecting sufficient surveillance data to identify VoIs as quickly as we would like. Luckily, most VoIs do not go on to become VoCs.”
What threshold would trigger redesign of vaccines?
“The vaccines we have continue to be highly effective in protecting against serious disease, hospitalisation and death for all known variants. There are some differences in how effective they are against different variants but collecting this evidence is very difficult as there are a lot of confounding factors. Updated vaccines that more fully target variants, particularly Delta, are being developed for testing currently.”
No conflict of interest.