XEC (a recombinant with the KP.3-type spike) is most prominent in multiple provinces now over KP.3.1.1. KP.3.1.1 decendents are still prevalent though (named MC.**). LP.8.1 and especially LP.8.1.1 are showing significant selective growth in multiple regions. LP.8.1 is a KP.1.1 "FLIRT" subvariant with the mutation S:493E and then S:190S, which is a predicted immune escape mutation. LP.8.1 has been shown experimentally to have higher binding affinity for the ACE2 human host receptor but equivalent immune escape as XEC (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.27.630350v1). However the subvariant LP.8.1.1 also has the mutation S:679R which potentially further impacts transmissibility. It is showing more growth in regions with less XEC.
Variants of current interest (due to their current/potential growth advantage, mutations of potential functional significance, or spread in other countries):
- XEC which also has a KP.3-type spike, (recombinant of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3) but some changes that appear to confer a slight advantage including immune evasion.
- LP.8.1 (derived from KP.1.1.3) - but note it is not showing significant growth in all regions.
- LP.8.1.1 - LP.8.1 with also the mutation S:679R which potentially further impacts transmissibility (impacts the furin cleavage site). But its growth is noted to vary, dependent on the prevalence in the region of other variants.
- Additional subvariants of KP.3.1.1/MC.1 showing more recent growth.
Plus any highly divergent variants (“saltation” lineages with a sudden increase in number of mutations) and sublineages with additional combinations of mutations identified through mutation scanning (see some references under List of Useful Tools below).