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A quick thread on the new variant, pulling together information from news sources, twitter, genomic databases, and word from well-placed peers.
The new variant in the UK consists of several mutations in the spike protein, including ΔH69/ΔV70 deletions & other receptor binding domain mutations such as N501Y.
The variant is described here in this pre-print from @GuptaR_lab.
https://t.co/ui2U1r1ANA
The ΔH69/ΔV70 variant continues to increase quite rapidly as a proportion of overall positives (roughly doubling in the last 2 to three days), and is apparently now the dominant strain in test positives in some regions.
Extensive efforts have gone into enhanced surveillance for the ΔH69/ΔV70 deletion with and without RBD mutations, and it is good that we are aware of this.
There is a need for calm and rational thinking, and more evidence is needed.
But the early data is certainly concerning
Cabinet has been summoned for call at lunchtime. Lots of concern about new data on virus in parts of England, feels like fast moving situation. https://t.co/308YsJEVGw
— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) December 19, 2020
The new variant in the UK consists of several mutations in the spike protein, including ΔH69/ΔV70 deletions & other receptor binding domain mutations such as N501Y.
The variant is described here in this pre-print from @GuptaR_lab.
https://t.co/ui2U1r1ANA

The ΔH69/ΔV70 variant continues to increase quite rapidly as a proportion of overall positives (roughly doubling in the last 2 to three days), and is apparently now the dominant strain in test positives in some regions.
Extensive efforts have gone into enhanced surveillance for the ΔH69/ΔV70 deletion with and without RBD mutations, and it is good that we are aware of this.
There is a need for calm and rational thinking, and more evidence is needed.
But the early data is certainly concerning