New coronavirus mutant found in California is more contagious

What we know about California COVID variant B.1.427/ B.1.429 Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, say it should be listed as a "variant of concern." Newsweek

A new coronavirus variant that was first identified in California is now taking hold in some parts of the state—but what do we currently know about it?

The variant actually comes in two forms, known as B.1.427 and B.1.429, both of which carry a similar, albeit slightly differing, set of genetic mutations—including three that affect the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The spike protein enables the virus to bind on to and enter human cells. One of the mutation that B.1.427 and B.1.429 carry—dubbed L452R—is thought to increase the infectivity of the virus.

Scientists think B.1.427/B.1.429 first emerged in late spring or summer of 2020 before it was first detected by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, in December. It has now been found in at least 45 U.S. states and several countries around the world, although California is the only place it has taken hold significantly.

Researchers from UCSF have documented the spread of the variant in the state in a paper that has yet to be peer-reviewed or posted online, but was reported on by outlets such as the New York Times and Science magazine.

For their study, the researchers examined 2,172 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples collected from patients in 44 California counties between September 1, 2020, and January 29, 2021, according to Science. The scientists found that the prevalence of the variant among the samples increased drastically from zero to more than 50 percent over this time period.

The UCSF researchers also say that cases caused by the variant are now doubling every 18 days, the Times reported.

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