In South Africa, a network of researchers are studying whether new lineages BA.4 and BA.5 escape immunity from COVID-19 vaccines and prior infections.
Tulio de Oliveira’s team at Stellenbosch University in South Africa discovered the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron.Western Cape, South Africa
At the same time, researchers are grappling with how to communicate their concerns and the uncertainty about variants openly, while not provoking unnecessary government policies and anxiety. Late last year, when de Oliveira’s team detected the original Omicron, countries including the United States and the United Kingdom invoked travel bans against South Africa. The bans failed to prevent the variant’s spread, but severely damaged the already struggling South African economy.
One thing that makes BA.4 and BA.5 stand out to virologists is an amino acid mutation they share called F486V. It is located on the viruses’ spike protein near where the protein attaches to the ACE2 receptor on cells — an interaction that opens the door to infection. Important antibodies generated in response to COVID-19 vaccines and to prior infections with SARS-CoV-2 neutralize the virus by clinging to this spot.