08/05/2021

The 'Delta Plus' Variant Has Spread to Nearly 30 Countries

However, low case numbers indicate it won't overtake Delta

As the Delta coronavirus variant tears across the globe, scientists are keeping a close eye on its relative: Delta Plus.

The two variants are genetically similar, which is why they share the same Greek letter. But Delta Plus (also known as AY.1) has an extra mutation in the code for its spike protein, which helps the coronavirus access our cells.

India's health ministry said last month that Delta Plus appeared to spread more easily than Delta and might be able to bind more easily to lung cells or resist antibody drugs. But an Indian genomics consortium suggested more recently that Delta's sublineages probably weren't more transmissible than Delta. As of July 23, India had recorded no more than 70 Delta Plus cases.

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