Lambda could be a potential threat to human society, according to University of Tokyo’s Kay Sato
The South American version of the new coronavirus (“Lambda”) is highly contagious and more resistant to vaccines than the original, which first appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Reuters reported, citing a study by Japanese scientists.
In laboratory experiments, researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered three mutations in the spiny protein of the Lambda variant, which make the virus resistant to the antibodies formed during vaccination.
Two other additional mutations are contributing to the South American variant of the new coronavirus, first isolated in Peru and spreading to South American countries, to be more contagious.
It is unclear whether the South American version of COVID-19 is more dangerous than the world’s now dominant Delta.
“Lambda can be a potential threat to human society,” said Kei Sato of the University of Tokyo.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has placed the Lambda variant in the group of interesting species of the new coronavirus, rather than in the category of those of concern.
According to Japanese scientists, this may give the impression that the South American version is not so dangerous.
The data from the study are published in the electronic library bioRxiv.
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