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Lab experiments found Lambda variant of COVID ‘shows vaccine resistance’

EU approves first vaccine against common respiratory virus
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According to Japanese researchers, the Lambda variant of the COVID-19, which was first identified in Peru and is now spreading throughout South America, is more infectious and resistant to vaccines than the original version of the virus that emerged from Wuhan, China.

In Lab, researchers discovered that three mutations in Lambda’s spike protein, known as RSYLTPGD246-253N, 260 L452Q, and F490S, help it resist neutralisation by vaccine-induced antibodies. They discovered that two additional mutations, T76I and L452Q, contribute to Lambda’s high infectiousness.

According to Reuters, researchers warn in a paper published on bioRxiv on Wednesday ahead of peer review that because Lambda is classified as a “Variant of Interest” rather than a “Variant of Concern” by the World Health Organization, people may be unaware that it is a serious ongoing threat.

Although it is unclear whether this variant is more dangerous than the Delta strain that is currently threatening populations in many countries, senior researcher Kei Sato of the University of Tokyo believes that “Lambda can be a potential threat to human society.”

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Polina Tikhonova

Polina Tikhonova from Kyiv is Insider Paper’s Editor/Writer. Besides editing pieces, Polina covers articles with a focus on World affairs and politics at Insider Paper. Polina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. Her articles and news reports have been published by many newspapers, magazines, journals, blogs, and online media sources across the globe. Polina is fluent in English, German, Ukrainian, and Russian.







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