While the BA.2.86 or “Pirola” variant of SARS-CoV-2 never took off in the U.S., some researchers are now eyeing its descendant, JN.1, which may be more immune-evasive.
JN.1 has yet to appear on the CDC’s variant proportions tracker, but it has started cropping up in samples in France, the U.K., and Portugal.
The CDC warned in Augusto that since BA.2.86 had more than 30 new mutations, it could have a growth advantage over other variants. That hasn’t yet materialized, but eyes are on JN.1 because it also has a mutation in L455S, which has been problematic for monoclonal antibodies, researchers said.