The coronavirus hasn't stopped producing new strains, and the world's latest has figured out how to evade the immune system.
The new variant, called XEC, was first discovered in Germany and has already begun spreading across Europe and the United States.
How do coronavirus variants emerge?
The coronavirus has undergone numerous significant mutations since it emerged in 2019, each of which can change how the virus affects the human body and the ability to be vaccinated against.
The XEC strain was first discovered this year and, like previous variants, likely evolved through random changes in the virus' genetic code as it replicates within the human host.
In the world of virology, mutations are a natural phenomenon. Still, each new variant raises concerns because it changes the virus's ability to evade the immune system or escape vaccine protection. A woman prepares to receive a COVID vaccine. (Photo credit: FLASH90)
What is the XEC coronavirus variant?
XEC is considered a “variant of concern,” a category defined by the World Health Organization as a variant likely to have significant clinical impact in humans.
Like previous variants of the coronavirus, it has been shown to have a greater ability to invade cells in the body. Preliminary studies have shown that it may bind particularly effectively to receptors on lung cells, leading to rapid infection. XEC also appears to be able to evade some of the antibodies generated by previous vaccination or infection, giving it an advantage in combating the host's immune system.
The new strain has another change to the mutant spike protein that allows it to evade some of the protection the body has generated from previous vaccinations, but it's unclear how strong this effect is and whether existing vaccines will need to be modified to fight it effectively.
What are the symptoms of the XEC variant of coronavirus?
Symptoms of XEC variants are generally similar to those of previous variants, although subtle changes in the clinical picture have been reported.
Symptoms may include:
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Fever, dry cough, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, headache
Some patients, especially those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, and early reports suggest some may experience loss of smell and taste, though at a lower rate than was common with previous variants.
Are coronavirus vaccines effective against the XEC variant?
Each time a new variant emerges, the question arises as to whether existing vaccines are effective against it. Preliminary studies suggest that existing vaccines still offer some level of protection against XEC, primarily in terms of preventing severe illness and hospitalization.
However, the mutations in the spike protein found in this variant may reduce the full protective effectiveness of the vaccine, especially in preventing primary infection.
Vaccine manufacturers have already begun to investigate the impact of the variant on the antibodies generated by current vaccines, and if the XEC variant proves to be able to evade vaccines to a large extent, it is expected that new vaccines will be adapted to protect against it.
Where is the XEC coronavirus variant spreading?
The XEC variant has been detected in several countries around the world, with countries such as the UK, US, India and Brazil reporting an increase in the number of reported cases. Europe is currently experiencing a large wave of infections, with XEC thought to be one of the main causes.
