Texas A&M Laboratory identifies new COVID-19 variant; Genome suggests potential resistance to antibodies

Editor’s Note: This article was published by a partnership between Texas A&M University and KSAT. You can also read it on Texas A&M Today.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, April 19, 2021 – Scientists at the Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex (GHRC) have identified a variant of the COVID-19 virus – “BV-1” – that poses a new public health challenge can offer.

Although the Texas A&M scientists are only found in one person who has only soft systems, they decided that they should share information about the variant with scientists around the world.

This is because published experiments on cell culture from other laboratories have shown that several neutralizing antibodies are not effective in controlling other variants with the same genetic markers as BV-1.

“We do not currently know the full meaning of this variant, but it does contain a combination of mutations similar to other internationally reportable variants,” said Ben Neuman, chief virologist at the GHRC. “This variant combines genetic markers separately that are associated with rapid spread, serious diseases and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies.”

“We have not detected any more cases of this variant,” Neuman added. We have not grown or tested this virus in any way. This announcement is based only on the genetic sequence analysis done in the laboratory. ”

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

The single case of BV-1

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 was tested positive at GHRC on 5 March. It has been re-tested and confirmed in a federally regulated laboratory in the CHI St. Joseph Regional Hospital. The student lives outside the campus, but is active in organizations on campus. The student gave the general guidelines of Texas A&M.

The student later provided a second sample that tested positive on March 25, suggesting that the variant may cause a longer-lasting infection than is typical of COVID-19 for adults aged 18-24 years. A third sample obtained on April 9 was negative and did not reveal any evidence of virus.

The student presented mild cold symptoms from early to mid-March that never progressed severely and were completely resolved by April 2nd.

Share important information, explore the unknown

GHRC scientists have submitted a paper on BV-1 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

GHRC also deposited its sequence data on BV-1 with GISAID, the Munich-based scientific initiative that collects SARS-CoV-2 series 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 that scientists have found worldwide.

Neuman said GHRC will closely monitor more cases involving BV-1, given the possible genetic makeup. The research complex has in recent weeks found scores of SARS-CoV-2 mutations through a particularly widespread genetic sequence program.

While many U.S. laboratories limit sequencing to serious COVID-19 cases, Texas A&M is throwing a wider network, including asymptomatic students, to find out about variants before they cause serious illness.

Neuman said the broader investigation and sharing of information is aimed at giving scientists, public health policy makers and the public as much information as possible in the ongoing effort to limit transmission.

“Sequence helps to provide an early warning system for new variants,” Neuman said. “Although we do not yet understand the full meaning of BV-1, the variant emphasizes a continuing need for strict surveillance and genomic testing, even among young adults with no symptoms or only mild symptoms.”

About the Global Health Research Complex (GHRC): GHRC, located at Texas A&M University, is an $ 86 million, 102,000-square-foot, modern, state-of-the-art facility and core laboratory that serves as a resource for the entire Texas A&M University system to combat emerging disease threats. GHRC supports and promotes multidisciplinary research, education and training opportunities for major animal and insect vectors for faculties at Texas A&M and their partners from other academic institutions and industries.

About research at the Texas A&M University: As one of the leading research institutions in the world, Texas A&M is at the forefront of making significant contributions to science and discovery, including science and technology. Research conducted in Texas A&M generated annual expenditures of more than $ 1.131 billion in the 2020 fiscal year. Texas A&M is in the top 25 of the most recent National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development survey, based on expenditures of more than $ 952 million in fiscal year 2019. Texas A & M’s research creates new knowledge that is basic, fundamental and make applied contributions that result in economic benefits for the state, nation and world. research.tamu.edu

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