Covid-19: First case of ‘supermutant’ variant BA.2.86 found in France

He was probably already there, but he still needed to identify him. According to our information, the first case of infection with a new variant of Omicron BA.2.86 was finally officially detected this Thursday, August 31, in France. The positive sample submitted for sequencing, that is, a complete analysis of the genome, is dated August 21 and concerns a person tested in the Grand Est region.

Thus, France joins fifteen countries (USA, Denmark, Sweden, etc.) that have discovered at least one case of this variant, which is distinguished by thirty additional mutations in the Spike protein compared to the currently dominant strains. This very specific profile led the World Health Organization to place it “under surveillance” very quickly, although we do not yet know what implications these mutations may have on its transmissibility and virulence.

“Some antibodies will always cling to Spike”

Nicknamed “Pirola” on social media, BA.2.86 may also have partially escaped immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. Antibodies targeting the Spike protein may not recognize it correctly.

“Even if sections of the Spike protein are mutated, some antibodies will still cling to it,” which limits infection, said Etienne Simon-Laurier, head of evolutionary RNA virus genomics at the Pasteur Institute, on Aug. 20. “Proven cases do not show atypical symptoms, and the world population has basically acquired some form of immunity against severe forms through vaccination and/or infection,” he added at the time.