Epidemiology and virological characteristics of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant PJ.2.1

  1. Markus Hoffmann
  2. Lu Zhang
  3. Nianzhen Chen
  4. Nicole Moor
  5. Inga Nehlmeier
  6. Luise Graichen
  7. Anna Sophie Moldenhauer
  8. Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka
  9. Christine Happle
  10. Georg M N Behrens
  11. Stefan Pöhlmann
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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate globally at high levels and to evolve into new variants. Recently, a new saltation variant harbouring a highly mutated spike protein, PJ.2.1, emerged in North America. Here, we provide a brief epidemiological and virological characterization of PJ.2.1 and cocirculating variants. We report that PJ.2.1 is spreading in the USA, Canada, and Spain and mainly infects individuals aged 60 years and older, as do most other variants, with the exception of BA.3.2, which preferentially infects individuals aged 0-9 years. PJ.2.1 was less susceptible to inhibition by an antibody against ACE2 than were the other variants, indicating increased ACE2 binding. In contrast, PJ.2.1 did not show augmented evasion of antibodies from vaccinees who had received the LP.8.1-adapted vaccine compared with most other variants analysed. These results suggest that augmented ACE2 affinity rather than increased antibody evasion might drive the current, rapid spread of PJ.2.1.

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  1. Mentioned by @boghuma.bsky.social on Bluesky

    Here is a preprint with these data: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

  2. Mentioned by @bill-comeau.bsky.social on Bluesky

    There is scientific interest in how this unusual variant evolved, perhaps evolution within a single host over time. That's why I posted and brought to the attention of PHO. It is expected that current mRNA boosters should remain effective against PJ.2. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

  3. Mentioned by @christaupe.bsky.social on Bluesky

    Je rebondis sur mon message pour quelques précisions sur l'efficacité prévisible de l'ancien rappel anti LP.8.1 contre les variants en circulation. L'équipe de virologie allemande de @snpoehlm.bsky.social a mis récemment à disposition 1 autre étude en preprint : www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

  4. Mentioned by @troubleshooter.bsky.social on Bluesky

    #Servicepost #News #Medizin #Medicine #SARSCoV2 🚨 #CovidIsNotOver ⚠️ ➡️ Die Hauptsaison der Atemwegsinfekte hat begonnen❗️ ➡️ SARS-CoV-2 zirkuliert global weiter auf hohem Niveau und entwickelt sich fortlaufend zu neuen Varianten #EsIstNichtVorbei www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

  5. Mentioned by @ralfwittenbrink.bsky.social on Bluesky

    meisten untersuchten Varianten keine verstärkte Immunflucht gegenüber den durch die LP.8.1-Impfung ausgelösten Antikörpern. H/T Stefan Pöhlmann @snpoehlm.bsky.social et al. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

  6. Mentioned by @biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social on Bluesky

    Epidemiology and virological characteristics of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant PJ.2.1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.757354v1

  7. Mentioned by @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social on Bluesky

    Epidemiology and virological characteristics of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant PJ.2.1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.757354v1

  8. Version published to 10.64898/2026.10.08.757354v1 on bioRxiv