Texas A&M Lab Identifies New COVID-19 Variant; Genome suggests possible antibody resistance

Editor’s Note: This article was published through a collaboration 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 Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex (GHRC) have identified a variant of the COVID-19 virus – “BV-1” – that could pose a new public health challenge .

Although they were found in only one person who had only mild systems, the Texas A&M scientists decided they needed to share information about the variant with scientists around the world.

That’s because published cell culture-based experiments from other labs have shown that different neutralizing antibodies are ineffective in controlling other variants with the same genetic markers as BV-1.

“We do not currently know the full significance of this variant, but it has a combination of mutations that is similar to other internationally notifiable variants of concern,” said GHRC Chief Virologist Ben Neuman. “This variant combines genetic markers that are individually associated with rapid spread, severe disease and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies.”

“We have not discovered any more copies of this variant,” added Neuman. “We have not grown or tested this virus in any way. This announcement is purely based on the genetic sequence analysis performed in the laboratory. “

BV-1 is related to the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The “BV” stands for “Brazos Valley,” the seven-county region of Texas where Texas A&M and GHRC are located.

The only case of BV-1

GHRC first detected BV-1 in a saliva sample from a Texas A&M student as part of the university’s ongoing COVID-19 testing program. The sample tested positive at GHRC on March 5. It was retested and confirmed in a federally regulated laboratory at CHI St. Joseph Regional Hospital. The student lives off-campus, but is active in on-campus organizations. The student was given general reporting guidelines from Texas A&M.

The student later provided a second sample that tested positive on March 25, indicating that the variant may cause a longer-lasting infection than is typical for COVID-19 for adults 18-24 years old. A third sample obtained on April 9 was negative and showed no evidence of virus.

The student exhibited mild cold symptoms from early to mid-March that never progressed in severity and were completely gone by April 2.

Sharing essential information, exploring the unknown

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

GHRC has also deposited its sequence data on BV-1 with GISAID, the Munich-based scientific initiative that collects SARS-CoV-2 sequences from around the world. The official name of the BV-1 variant is hCoV-19 / USA / TX-GHRC-BV1-EQ4526591 / 2021. It is one of thousands of variants that scientists have found worldwide.

Neuman said GHRC will keep a close watch for more cases involving BV-1, given the potential genetic predisposition. The research complex has found dozens of SARS-CoV-2 mutations in recent weeks through a very widespread genetic sequencing program.

While many U.S. labs limit sequencing to severe COVID-19 cases, Texas A&M is casting a wider net, including asymptomatic students, to find affected variants before they cause serious illness.

Neuman said the broader research and information sharing aims to provide scientists, public health policymakers and the public with as much information as possible in the ongoing quest to limit transmission.

“Sequencing helps to provide an early warning system for new variants,” said Neuman. “While we may not yet understand the full significance of BV-1, the variant highlights an ongoing need for rigorous surveillance and genomic testing, including among young adults with no symptoms or only mild symptoms.”

About the Global Health Research Complex (GHRC): Based at Texas A&M University, GHRC is a state-of-the-art, nationally awarded $ 86 million, 102,000 square foot facility and core laboratory serving as a resource for the entire Texas A&M University System to combat emerging disease threats. GHRC supports and promotes multidisciplinary research on large animal and insect vectors, education and training opportunities for Texas A&M faculty and their partners from other academic institutions and industry.

About research at Texas A&M University: As one of the world’s leading research institutions, Texas A&M is at the forefront of making significant contributions to science and discovery, including science and technology. Research conducted at Texas A&M generated annual expenditures of more than $ 1.131 billion in fiscal 2020. Texas A&M was 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 makes foundational, fundamental, and applied contributions that result in economic benefits to the state, land and world. research.tamu.edu

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