APR 16 UPDATE. Here’s the answer: they converge. At 3 positions which could largely inform the next vaccine boost. @yunlong_cao @RajlabN @SystemsVirology @BenjMurrell @SimonLoriereLab @EricTopol @LongDesertTrain @SolidEvidence @CorneliusRoemer @siamosolocani @BenjMurrell
APR 16 UPDATE. Here’s the answer: they converge. At 3 positions which could largely inform the next vaccine boost. @yunlong_cao @RajlabN @SystemsVirology @BenjMurrell @SimonLoriereLab @EricTopol @LongDesertTrain @SolidEvidence @CorneliusRoemer @siamosolocani @BenjMurrell https://t.co/qm6gzYm45W
@dfocosi @yunlong_cao @RajlabN @SystemsVirology @BenjMurrell @SimonLoriereLab @EricTopol @LongDesertTrain @SolidEvidence @CorneliusRoemer @siamosolocani Thanks so much Daniele - an invaluable resource on a dynamic topic. FWIW I've been considering LA.2 as a "FLiRI" - it has S:R346I instead of S:R346T. That might imply a new bubble, so perhaps not worth separating.
@Mike_Honey_ @dfocosi @yunlong_cao @RajlabN @SystemsVirology @BenjMurrell @SimonLoriereLab @EricTopol @LongDesertTrain @SolidEvidence @CorneliusRoemer @siamosolocani Very interesting. But I'm not sure how useful this is for vaccine composition for two reasons: 1. if you use antigenic distance these variants are very close to each other relative to JN.1. versus BA.2.6 versus XBB and 2.
@Mike_Honey_ @dfocosi @yunlong_cao @RajlabN @SystemsVirology @BenjMurrell @SimonLoriereLab @EricTopol @LongDesertTrain @SolidEvidence @CorneliusRoemer @siamosolocani 2. As no one knows which JN.1. children branch would end up dominating, JN.1. is a good hedge.
@Mike_Honey_ @dfocosi @yunlong_cao @RajlabN @SystemsVirology @BenjMurrell @SimonLoriereLab @EricTopol @LongDesertTrain @SolidEvidence @CorneliusRoemer @siamosolocani 3. Covid has explored most of possible variations so it should evolve much more slowly now x.com/ejustin46/stat…
@Mike_Honey_ @dfocosi @yunlong_cao @RajlabN @SystemsVirology @BenjMurrell @SimonLoriereLab @EricTopol @LongDesertTrain @SolidEvidence @CorneliusRoemer @siamosolocani 4. WHO will decide on vaccine composition today and most likely it'll be JN.1. indico.un.org/event/1009842/ deviating from this choice will make global coordination complicated. END thanks for not reading LOL.