Brazil confirms new strain of coronavirus in São Paulo interior

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Society of Virology (SBV) yesterday, May 25, confirmed the identification of a new Brazilian coronavirus strain, denominated P4. According to the SBV, the variant has the L452R mutation in the S protein of SARS-CoV-2.

There is still no data on whether the new strain is more transmissible or more lethal than the others.

According to the SBV, the new variant has been circulating in the region of the São Paulo cities of Mococa, Caconde, and Itapira (close to the border with Minas Gerais), and also in the region of Porto Ferreira, Descalvado, Itirapina, Capão Bonito, São Miguel Arcanjo, Itapetininga, Iperó, and Cesário Lange.

The identification study, fostered by the Coronavirus Network of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, was conducted by the Biotechnology Institute of the São Paulo State University (UNESP), in Botucatu; the Institute of Biosciences, Languages and Exact Sciences of UNESP in São José do Rio Preto and the Virology Research Laboratory of the
São José do Rio Preto Medical School.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Unesp in Araraquara and the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering of the University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga campus were also part of the research.

Source: Agência Brasil