Variant “Cerberus”: name is just a research joke

So far there is no evidence that this is a killer variety, as the name suggests. In fact, the name is a response from scientists who dubbed it “Cerberus” in response to the World Health Organization’s refusal to continue naming new variants of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (such as up to and including omicron) to letters of the Greek alphabet. , reports molecular biologist Ulrich Ellling of the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

“It’s all a joke born out of frustration,” says the IMBA researcher. Since Omikron, all other variants or sublines (there are already hundreds of them, note) are only provided with letter/number combinations. “The BQ.1 variants currently in circulation. and BQ.1.1. are actually sublines of the Omikron daughters BA.4 and BA.5, which in turn descend from the Omikron variant BA.2,” explains Elling (photo below) in an interview with krone.at.

Variants are currently spreading rapidly
The relative share of BQ.1. and BQ.1.1 in Covid infections have continuously increased in recent weeks, the geneticist knows. In calendar week 45 (November 7 to 13), it was 21 percent for both variants together, currently already accounting for 26 percent (10 percent for BQ.1. or 16 percent for BQ.1.1.) of Covid cases. A strong upward trend is visible, as evidenced by wastewater sample sequencing and PCR testing.

This sets the variants BQ.1. and BQ.1.1. roughly comparable to the subline BA.5+R346T, another omicron variant – particularly common in Vorarlberg – which is currently responsible for about 25 to 26 percent of corona cases, but whose spread is clearly declining. According to Elling, two or three mutations in the spike protein mean that the “Cerberus” variants spread a little faster than their predecessors and are also slightly more contagious.

Mutations mainly in the spike protein
Due to the changes, vaccinations or previous Covid infections do not provide 100% protection. “The virus mutates at the points where antibodies attach to the spike protein (red in the photo below) of the coronavirus. If it changes in these areas, the antibodies formed as a result of vaccinations or overcome infections no longer bind as well,” Elling explains.

This so-called immune flight, which is also suggested by lab studies from Asia, is likely to lead to an increase in reinfections and a new wave, according to the scientist. The evaluation of tests shows that the number of Covid infections in children is increasing and the seven-day incidence is also increasing again. It is difficult to predict how the wave will turn out concretely. However, it should not lead to problems in hospitals, says Elling.

‘The virus seems to be unable to think of anything’
What makes him optimistic is the fact “that the coronavirus seems clueless.” The mutations are minor, the pathogen does not currently cause more severe symptoms. Because a large part of the local population is vaccinated, a large number of serious diseases are prevented. There is currently no pathogen in the “variety soup” that – in terms of the severity of the disease – seems particularly dangerous, says Elling.

Studies by the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer also brought good news late last week regarding the “Cerberus” variant: the bivalent Omicron vaccine developed with the German company Biontech in Mainz apparently also helps against the new mutation, the Deutsches Ärzteblatt reported Friday . Laboratory studies would indicate that Biontech/Pfizer’s Omikron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent Covid-19 vaccine is also likely to protect against the BQ.1.1 subline, it said.