BA.2.86

BA.2.86 is an Omicron subvariant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. BA.2.86 is notable for having more than thirty mutations on its spike protein relative to BA.2.[1] The subvariant, which was first detected in a sample from 24 July 2023,[2] is of concern due to it having made an evolutionary jump on par with the evolutionary jump that the original Omicron variant had made relative to Wuhan-Hu-1, the reference strain first sequenced in Wuhan in December 2019.[3][4][5][6] It is a mutation of BA.2, itself a very early mutation in the Omicron family.[4] BA.2.86 was designated as a variant under monitoring by the World Health Organization on 17 August 2023.[7] The variant was nicknamed Pirola by media, although no official sources use this name.[8] Its descendant JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) became the dominating Lineage in Winter 2023/2024.[9][10]

  1. ^ "Risk Assessment Summary for SARS CoV-2 Sublineage BA.2.86 | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants". World Health Organization. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ "This latest covid variant could be the best yet at evading immunity". Washington Post. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Highly mutated COVID virus variant BA.2.86 showing up in multiple countries". CBC. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Selection analysis identifies significant mutational changes in Omicron that are likely to influence both antibody neutralization and Spike function (Part 1 of 2)". Virological. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  6. ^ Cella, Eleonora; Benedetti, Francesca; Fabris, Silvia; Borsetti, Alessandra; Pezzuto, Aldo; Ciotti, Marco; Pascarella, Stefano; Ceccarelli, Giancarlo; Zella, Davide; Ciccozzi, Massimo; Giovanetti, Marta (18 March 2021). "SARS-CoV-2 Lineages and Sub-Lineages Circulating Worldwide: A Dynamic Overview". Chemotherapy. 66 (1–2): 3–7. doi:10.1159/000515340. PMC 8089399. PMID 33735881. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. ^ "COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update (Edition 156 published 17 August 2023)" (PDF). World Health Organization. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. ^ "From Kraken to Pirola: who comes up with the nicknames for COVID-19 variants? | Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance". www.gavi.org. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  9. ^ "COVID-19 Activity Increases as Prevalence of JN.1 Variant Continues to Rise". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. ^ Wannigama, Dhammika Leshan; Amarasiri, Mohan; Phattharapornjaroen, Phatthranit; Hurst, Cameron; Modchang, Charin; Chadsuthi, Sudarat; Anupong, Suparinthon; Miyanaga, Kazuhiko; Cui, Longzhu; Werawatte, W K C P; Ali Hosseini Rad, S M; Fernandez, Stefan; Huang, Angkana T; Vatanaprasan, Porames; Saethang, Thammakorn (2024-03-04). "Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 new variants BA.2.86 and offspring JN.1 in south and Southeast Asia". Journal of Travel Medicine. doi:10.1093/jtm/taae040. ISSN 1195-1982.