B.1.1.529

B.1.1.529 has 32 mutations, many of which suggest it is highly transmissible and VACCINE RESISTANT as it has more alterations to its spike protein than any other variant. There is some hope that many unvaccinated with post infection immunity already have some protection and its unprecedented number of mutations might work against it and make it 'unstable', preventing it from becoming widespread. At the same time the forth and in some countries 5th wave of Sarscov2 already brings higher case loads and increase in fatalities and leads to lockdowns expected to accelerate in 1H of 2022 while once again the officials had opened up the borders to “alleviate” the spread. https://twitter.com/unmuteit/status/1386881057157357574?s=21

Key mutations of the Botswana variant include N501Y that makes viruses more transmissible and was previously seen on the 'Alpha' variant and Beta among others, E484A, K417N and N440K from previous variants that could also make it more resistant as they can escape antibodies. B.1.1.529 also carries furin cleavage site mutations P681H and N679K that increases virulence

Other mutations it has include G446S, T478K, Q493K, G496S, Q498R and Y505H,

• K417N & E484A allow to dodge vaccines
• N440K & S477N are linked to antibody escape
• P681H & N679K near FCS ⬆️ infectivity
• N501Y ⬆️transmissibility

Others include the G446S, T478K, Q493K, G496S, Q498R Y505H, and importantly L981F + non-S Δ's