Emergence of Deltacron: Could a new virus strain be prevalent, and is there cause for concern?
In a significant development, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant named Deltacron has been confirmed as a genuine recombinant variant, formed by genetic recombination between the Delta and Omicron variants.
Initially, reports of Deltacron raised suspicions of laboratory contamination due to the unusual presence of mutations from both variants in the same genome sequences. However, subsequent studies have confirmed that Deltacron is a natural recombinant virus, observed in multiple independent samples in different locations.
The team that reported the discovery, led by Dr. Leondios Kostrikis, a professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Cyprus, identified Deltacron in three individuals in France. In Cyprus, the variant has been detected in 25 individuals, some hospitalized and some in the community.
Despite the confirmation of Deltacron, it has not caused major outbreaks or replaced other variants globally. Its impact on transmissibility or immune evasion remains under evaluation.
The initial controversy regarding contamination has been largely resolved by more rigorous sequencing and analysis protocols. Dr. Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London in the UK, who initially dismissed the findings, now acknowledges that the sequences reported do not appear to be contamination.
The Cyprus health minister has defended the findings, stating that they make him proud of the scientists. Dr. Kostrikis plans to submit his data for peer review and is investigating the views expressed by prominent scientists about his team's recent announcement.
The GISAID Initiative, which promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus causing COVID-19, has urged renewed caution when interpreting data that allegedly indicate the emergence of a new sub-variant of SARS-CoV-2. They advise against rushing to conclusions on data that have just been made available by labs under significant time pressure.
As the situation unfolds, further local epidemiological investigation in Cyprus is being called for to sort out the situation. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases, has emphasized the need for such investigations to determine whether Deltacron is a new hybrid variant or a result of a laboratory accident.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that it will be tracking and discussing the situation. Dr. Jeffrey Barrett, Director of the COVID-19 Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK, believes the findings are due to a lab error, but the evidence suggests otherwise.
As the understanding of Deltacron continues to evolve, it is important to maintain a clear and factual approach to the information available. The scientific community will continue to monitor this recombinant variant closely to understand its potential implications for the ongoing pandemic.
- Other viral infections, such as Deltacron, while not causing major outbreaks or replacing other variants globally, require continued scrutiny from the scientific community to understand their implications for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
- Impact on transmissibility or immune evasion of the Deltacron variant, a natural recombinant virus formed by genetic recombination between the Delta and Omicron variants, remains under evaluation.
- Despite initial suspicions of laboratory contamination, rigorous sequencing and analysis protocols have largely resolved the controversy surrounding the emergence of Deltacron, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, it is essential to promote the rapid sharing of data, as advocated by the GISAID Initiative, to ensure a more informed understanding of various viral conditions, including COVID-19 and its potential recombinant variants.
