Multiple 'mysterious mutants' of the new corona found in New York sewage



A paper was published reporting that at least four new types of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with unidentified mutations were found in sewage in New York, USA. All of these 'variant of concern' are reported to have mutations that evade immunity in people infected with the new coronavirus and those who have been vaccinated.

Tracking cryptic SARS-CoV-2 lineages detected in NYC wastewater | Nature Communications

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28246-3

MU scientist helps detect novel SARS-CoV-2 variants in NYC wastewater // Show Me Mizzou // University of Missouri
https://showme.missouri.edu/2022/mu-scientist-helps-detect-novel-sars-cov-2-variants-in-nyc-wastewater/

Mystery lineages of coronavirus are popping up in NYC sewage | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/mystery-lineages-coronavirus-new-york-sewers

Since the wastewater of sewerage contains a new type of coronavirus excreted from humans, it is possible to understand the spread of infection by analyzing this. Therefore, public health authorities and research institutes have established a sewage survey system, including a national wastewater monitoring system , to test for the new coronavirus.



Meanwhile, on February 3, 2022, a research team led by virologist Mark Johnson of the University of Missouri released a 'mysterious variant' of SARS-CoV-2 from a wastewater sample from a public sewer in New York City. A paper that identified four types was published in the open access academic journal Nature Communications.

According to the research team, all four mutant strains named 'WNY1-4' have the ability to partially or wholly avoid antibodies. In fact, in an experiment in which blood samples of people who had been infected with the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) or who had been vaccinated were exposed to the four mutant strains found this time, the effect of the antibody of the subjects was also found. It has been confirmed that it will decrease.

'There was a mutation in the place where'if the virus evades immunity, it would mutate here',' Johnson said.



At the time of writing, the origin of the mutant strain found in New York City sewage is unknown. It is possible that the SARS-CoV-2 present in the digestive tract and the SARS-CoV-2 present in the respiratory tract are of different types, so the current test with a cotton swab called a swab in the nose There are cases where an unseen variant was found in the sewage. In addition, it is undeniable that a mutant strain was found that was excreted from a person who could not be tested, such as a bedridden person.

However, so far no research results have been reported that SARS-CoV-2 in the intestine and nose were different species. It's also strange that some mutants spread only among the people of New York and don't spread from there, Johnson points out.

It is possible that the carrier of the mutant strain is an animal such as a mouse. The mutation found in the mutant strain found this time was found in the genomic region associated with the mutation that increased the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 to mice. It also reinforces this theory that mice enter and leave the sewer and do not go to distant areas.

Although the type is different from this mutant strain, it is said that the Omicron strain may have mutated in the body of rodents.

The origin of the new corona Omicron strain was found to be mutated in mice and infected humans --GIGAZINE



'For example, I don't know where the Omicron strain came from, but it must have somewhere to come from,' Johnson said of the findings. Similarly, the 'mysterious mutant' found this time is the next concern . We are concerned that it may be the origin of the mutant strain (VOC) that is being treated. '

in Science, Posted by log1l_ks