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Rachel V Thomas

COVID Cicada Variant Unlikely To Pose Major Threat, Claims Study

The emerging <span>COVID-19</span> BA.3.2 variant, dubbed Cicada and detected in 23 countries, may not pose a significant global threat, claimed a study.

The 2025 study, published in the mBio journal, showed that the immune response of the BA 3.2 <span>COVID</span> variant from vaccines or prior infection is less effective than against the original strain. The antibody effectiveness is three times lower against the BA.3.2 variant. However, it does not mean that there is no protection at all. 

“BA.3.2 showed intermediate neutralization, representing a 3-fold reduction compared to the ancestral strain,” said the researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, US. 

“BA.3.2 occupied an intermediate but distinctly separate position,” they said, adding that the variant “shows substantial immune escape potential that threatens protection”. 

In the study, the researchers used antigenic mapping to assess neutralizing antibody responses in 56 adults with varied exposure histories following KP.2 vaccination against emerging variants, including LP.8.1, LF.7.1, NB.1.8.1, XFG, and BA.3.2. 

While KP.2 vaccination enhanced neutralization against homologous variants, substantial reductions in neutralizing activity were observed against emerging <span>Omicron</span> variants across all exposure groups. 

Exposure history showed some influence on neutralization breadth, with self-reported vaccination-only participants exhibiting better cross-neutralization compared to individuals with hybrid immunity. 

The findings highlight the ongoing challenge of maintaining vaccine effectiveness against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants and argue for continuous updating of vaccines, the researchers said. 

“Despite its extraordinary number of mutations, BA.3.2 is not able to overcome immunity from vaccination, finds study. Other variants were more capable of evading immunity. This indicates it is not a major real-world threat,” said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, in a post on social media platform X. He was not part of the study. 

<h2>What Is The BA.3.2 Variant?</h2> <strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/india-passes-jan-vishwas-bill-heres-how-it-decriminalizes-health-sector-boosts-compliance-article-153995398" data-type="tilCustomLink">COVID Variant BA.3.2 Spreads To 23 Countries: Is The Variant Under Monitoring A Cause Of Worry?</a>

BA.3.2 is a descendant of the Omicron BA.3 lineage. It is genetically distinct from the previously circulating JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG). 

BA.3.2 comprises two major branches, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2. BA.3.2.2 also has substitutions like: K356T, A575S, R681H, and R1162P, the CDC report said. 

What makes the BA.3.2 variant special is the “70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of its spike protein”, according to the US CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 

“BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG) that have circulated in the US since January 2024,” said the CDC researchers. 

“BA.3.2 mutations in the spike protein have the potential to reduce protection from a previous infection or vaccination,” they added.

Highly Mutated COVID Strain ‘Cicada’ Raises Global Concern #shorts #shortsfeed #covid19

<h2><span rel="noindex">Cicada Variant</span>: Increased Risks To Children </h2>

However, the new Cicada variant with around 75 genetic changes in its spike protein is likely to disproportionately affect children, as per an expert, who noted its presence in the UK. 

“Some people have done analysis on this, suggesting it may be more prevalent among young children. Children get infections all the time, but this might be something to do with the fact that they have never been exposed to Covid vaccines," Prof Ravindra Gupta, of Cambridge University, who advised the UK government during the pandemic, was quoted as saying to The Mirror. 

“So this is something we’re looking at in the lab to try and work out why. The problem with this is that it is an infection that spreads fast. Eventually, it ends up in someone vulnerable," he added. 

Symptoms seem to be similar to those of other recent variants and include 

According to the CDC, the Cicada variant is also likely to raise gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or diarrhea.

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The emerging COVID-19 BA.3.2 variant, dubbed Cicada and detected in 23 countries, may not pose a significant global threat, claimed a study. The 2025 study, published in the mBio journal, showed that the immune response of the BA 3.2 COVID variant from vaccines or prior infection is less effective than against the original strain. The antibody effectiveness is three times lower against the BA.3.2 variant. However, it does not mean that there is no protection at all. “BA.3.2 showed intermediate neutralization, representing a 3-fold reduction compared to the ancestral strain,” said the researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, US. “BA.3.2 occupied an intermediate but distinctly separate position,” they said, adding that the variant “shows substantial immune escape potential that threatens protection”.  In the study, the researchers used antigenic mapping to assess neutralizing antibody responses in 56 adults with varied exposure histories following KP.2 vaccination against emerging variants, including LP.8.1, LF.7.1, NB.1.8.1, XFG, and BA.3.2. While KP.2 vaccination enhanced neutralization against homologous variants, substantial reductions in neutralizing activity were observed against emerging Omicron variants across all exposure groups. Exposure history showed some influence on neutralization breadth, with self-reported vaccination-only participants exhibiting better cross-neutralization compared to individuals with hybrid immunity.  The findings highlight the ongoing challenge of maintaining vaccine effectiveness against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants and argue for continuous updating of vaccines, the researchers said. “Despite its extraordinary number of mutations, BA.3.2 is not able to overcome immunity from vaccination, finds study. Other variants were more capable of evading immunity. This indicates it is not a major real-world threat,” said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, in a post on social media platform X. He was not part of the study. What Is The BA.3.2 Variant? Also read: COVID Variant BA.3.2 Spreads To 23 Countries: Is The Variant Under Monitoring A Cause Of Worry?BA.3.2 is a descendant of the Omicron BA.3 lineage. It is genetically distinct from the previously circulating JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG).  BA.3.2 comprises two major branches, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2. BA.3.2.2 also has substitutions like: K356T, A575S, R681H, and R1162P, the CDC report said.  What makes the BA.3.2 variant special is the “70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of its spike protein”, according to the US CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  “BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG) that have circulated in the US since January 2024,” said the CDC researchers.  “BA.3.2 mutations in the spike protein have the potential to reduce protection from a previous infection or vaccination,” they added.               Cicada Variant: Increased Risks To Children  However, the new Cicada variant with around 75 genetic changes in its spike protein is likely to disproportionately affect children, as per an expert, who noted its presence in the UK. “Some people have done analysis on this, suggesting it may be more prevalent among young children. Children get infections all the time, but this might be something to do with the fact that they have never been exposed to Covid vaccines," Prof Ravindra Gupta, of Cambridge University, who advised the UK government during the pandemic, was quoted as saying to The Mirror. “So this is something we’re looking at in the lab to try and work out why. The problem with this is that it is an infection that spreads fast. Eventually, it ends up in someone vulnerable," he added. Symptoms seem to be similar to those of other recent variants and include sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, headache fever. According to the CDC, the Cicada variant is also likely to raise gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or diarrhea.

covid cicada variant unlikely to pose major threat, claims study

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