JN.1 and the ongoing battle: unpacking the characteristics of a new dominant COVID-19 variant

ABSTRACT

In the fourth year of the COVID-19 occurrence, a new COVID-19 variant, JN.1, has emerged and spread globally and become the dominant strain in several regions. It has some specific mutations in its spike proteins, empowering it with higher transmissibility. Regarding the significance of the issue, understanding the clinical and immunological traits of JN.1 is critical for enhancing health strategies and vaccination efforts globally, with the ultimate goal of bolstering our collective response to the pandemic. In this study, we take a look at the latest findings of JN.1 characteristics and mutations as well as its consequences on bypassing immune system. We demonstrate the importance of continual surveillance and strategic adaptation within healthcare frameworks along with the significance of wastewater sampling for the rapid identification of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

KEYWORDS:

• JN.1
• COVID-19
• wastewater surveillance
• BA.2.86
• omicron
• monoclonal antibody

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Abbreviations

ACE2 Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

BTI Breakthrough Infection

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease 2019

GISAID Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data

hNEC Human Nasal Epithelial Cells

ICU Intensive Care Unit

INSACOG Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium

NT50 50% Neutralization Titer

RBD Receptor-binding motif

RBM Receptor-binding domain

SNAs Serum Neutralizing Antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

SNPs Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

VOI Variant of Interest

WHO World Health Organization

Author’s Contributions

MKH and MNA prepared the first draft. RE and AB revised the manuscript and prepared the final version. The project ran under the supervision of RE and all authors reviewed the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

No supporting funding.