Bloom Lab News Today

Researchers examined the antigenicity of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 subvariant BA.2.86, finding that it is not resistant to neutralizing antibodies from previously infected or vaccinated individuals, although it does show increased binding affinity to the ACE-2 receptor. The study highlights the subvariant's sensitivity and resistance to different classes of monoclonal antibodies, offering insights for future treatment and vaccine development.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is continuing to spread unhindered throughout the world, with wastewater data on the rise in Canada, Germany and other countries that still have such surveillance systems in place.

The new COVID variant Pirola may be even more capable of infecting people who already had COVID or have been vaccinated.

Health officials monitor BA.2.86, a highly mutated version of the COVID-19 virus. World Health Organization and CDC are tracking the strain

Today's Water Cooler

Debunking tripledemic misconceptions

A mutation in the new variant allows it to spread better than its forebears, but can still avoid antibodies well.

As scientists and mainstream media sounded the alarm this week about a new COVID-19 variant sweeping through the Northeast, the author of an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) [...]

CDC projections estimate a new SARS-CoV-2 variant called XBB.1.5 has exploded in prevalence across the US in a few short weeks. It was first detected in New York and early studies indicate it can more effectively bind to human cells than prior variants.

The BN.1 variant is now behind one in 20 infections nationwide estimates suggest, with numbers doubling roughly every two weeks.