What is 'FLiRT' COVID? Scientists predict spike of new coronavirus variants

by JACKSON WALKER | The National DeskDr. Terri Tiersky poses for a portrait in full personal protective equipment, double mask, face shield, gown and gloves, at her dentist office in Skokie, Ill., on Friday, June 12, 2020. Scientists are forecasting a rise in coronavirus cases throughout May as a new set of variants emerges,The variants, known as “FLiRT,” are distinguished by mutations in the disease’s spike proteins .

FliRT variants have mutations in areas designated “F for L” and “R for T,” Topol wrote via Substack. While these variants could lead to a rise in cases of COVID-19, Topol, who is a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research, explained the public has little to fear. My impression is that it won’t since they are mutations we’ve been exposed to before,” Topol wrote. “My projection is that we could see a wavelet but not a significant new wave of infections as a result of the FLiRT variants in the next couple of months. I think it will take a much bigger challenge of our immune response than what we see with the FLiRTs.”

Continuing, Topol noted high-risk individuals should remain aware of , but not worried about, the new variants. “Covid’s not going away, but I don’t think there is a significant short-term threat of the emerging FLiRT variants,” he wrote. “High-risk people should continue to take precautions, keeping up with boosters, and all forms of protection. Even if FLiRT doesn’t kick in, there’s plenty more ways that SARS-CoV2 can reinvent itself and find new ways or better ways to evade our immune response.”

COVID-19 Variants Mutations Topol Cases Spike Proteins Immune Response

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