Lambda-variant of interest

July 7, 2021

Syllabus- General Studies 3 (science and technology)

Context

Even as the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus continues to drive the rise in infections around the world, another variant, Lambda, is increasingly being seen by scientists and health experts as a new emerging threat.

Recently, the World Health Organization designated the Lambda variant, previously known by its formal scientific name C.37, as the seventh and newest “variant of interest”.

More in the news:

Like the Delta variant, the Lambda variant, which has now been detected in more than 25 countries.
It is feared to be more transmissible than the original virus, although it is not yet established because of the lack of enough studies on it.
It has been the dominant variant in Peru and other countries of South America.
The Lambda variant has not yet been found in the Indian population but has recently been detected in the UK and other European countries.

About Lambda variant:

It is not a new emergence.
It has been around at least since last year, possibly as early as August 2020.
In Peru, where it is believed to have originated, it accounts for almost 80% of the infections.
It is the dominant strain in neighbouring Chile as well. But until recently, it was largely concentrated in a handful of South American countries, including Ecuador and Argentina.
Significant Mutation:
- According to the WHO, the Lambda variant has at least seven significant mutations in the spike protein

Concerns:

It could have a range of implications, including:
- The possibility of increased transmissibility and
- Enhanced resistance to antibodies, created either through natural infection or vaccination.
A recent study reported that the Lambda variant had greater infectivity than the Alpha and Gamma variants.
The study also reported decreased effectiveness of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine (Coronavac) against the Lambda variant.
The designation as a “variant of interest” means that the genetic changes involved are predicted or known to affect transmissibility, disease severity, or immune escape.
It is also an acknowledgement of the fact that the variant has caused significant community transmission in multiple countries and population groups.

Is it a concern for India?

The behaviour of the Lambda variant is not very well understood right now.
The Lambda variant has so far not been found in India or neighbouring countries.
In Asia, only Israel has reported this variant until now.
- But several countries in Europe from where travel to India is frequent, including France, Germany, UK, and Italy have reported this variant.
The potential of emerging variants to bypass the immunity gained through vaccination means that;
- There could be fresh waves of infections even in populations that were being considered close to reach community-level protection.
India needs to proactively watch out for, and prevent the spread of any new variant that could trigger a fresh wave.

Question – Describe how the mutation in viruses occurs and what are its impact on vaccination drives.

Lambda-variant of interest