Is there really a new variant discovered in Cyprus?

Saturday 8 January 2021, Press Agency Bloomberg Information published It quickly spread in the media. Leondios g. Kostrikis, A. Biochemist Cyprus and Head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology At the University of Cyprus, a new variant of the corona virus was discovered, as a result Re-admission Between Categories Delta And Omigron. During an interview on January 7, 2021, the scientist announced his discovery on Sigma TV, known as the “Deltacron”.

Delta variant with genetic signatures of Omicron

The deltochron gene is said to be similar to the gene of the delta variant, but Specific changes to Omicron. Leondios Kostrikis and his team claim to have detected 25 cases of Deltacron. The rows of these have been hijacked In Gisaid By Cypriot Scientists, a Database It compiles a sequence of variants of the corona virus, but Deltacron is not yet part of the list of variants listed by the site.

In fact, the discovery of Deltacron has left many scientists skeptical. Tom Peacock, virologistImperial College From London, Talked about it on Twitter. This is a problem for him Pollution Models rather than a real restoration event.

Lack of variation?

Leondios Gostrigis I said Bloomberg, January 9, 2021, 25 models were not lined up simultaneously, in his opinion there was no technical error. Furthermore, he does not believe that deltacron is the result of a patient suffering from a combination of the two types as a result of the reunion between delta and omigron, but rather the natural evolution of the old variant.

So does the deltacron variant really exist? It is difficult to say from these elements alone. To confirm the presence of deltacron, other similar observations should be repeated independently, and in different laboratories.