Stefan Poehlmann
@snpoehlm.bsky.social
690 followers 1.5K following 92 posts
Virologist, Head of Infection Biology Unit, Deutsches Primatenzentrum, @primatenzentrum.bsky.social‬ dpz.eu/en/infection-biology Views are my own
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Reposted by Stefan Poehlmann
ryanhisner.bsky.social
BA.3.2 continues to surprise. It's foothold in both Australia and South Africa is solid, so it's not going to disappear anytime soon. It's also not growing especially quickly or spreading rapidly internationally.

But given enough time to explore, it may do both before long. We'll see. 6/6
Reposted by Stefan Poehlmann
ryanhisner.bsky.social
BA.3.2 originally added several new glycans, so perhaps removal of the N122 glycan (as well as the posited T678 O-linked glycan with T678I) is something of a counterbalancing act.

Hard to know. Could also just be a dead-end singlet, albeit an fascinating one. 3/3
bsky.app/profile/ryan...
ryanhisner.bsky.social
The new BA.3 has added 3-4 new glycans in spike at: N101 (via I101T), N185 (K187T), N354 (K356T—in 1/3 sequences), & N529 (K529N). Plus it lacks T19I, so it retains the N17 glycan that we’ve not seen since BA.1 (& which Delta also lacked due to T19R).
4/13
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snpoehlm.bsky.social
BA.3.2.2 is still around in South Africa
josetteschoenma.bsky.social
After 3 months, South Africa has uploaded another BA.3.2.2.

It has 3 mutations in common with the Australian samples, which we haven't seen outside of Australia before. T1195C, C2592T and T6856C. So, it probably migrated after it gained those.

It gained some extra mutations after that.
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Not sure about EPI_ISL_20192607 - labeled as BA.3 from Ireland. The limited spike sequence available carries some BA.3.2-like mutations but overall looks more like BA.3 with unique changes.
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Lu Zhang reporting on the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2 at #EMVZ, St Raphael, France. Great job, Lu!
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Great presentation by Nianzhen Chen on inhibition of MERS- CoV by soluble DPP4.
#EMVZ
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Such a joy to present at the European Meeting on Viral Zoonoses (#EMVZ) in beautiful Saint-Raphaël 🇫🇷 — amazing science, lively discussions, and an unforgettable setting. Can’t wait for the next one!
vigilant-eu.bsky.social
VIGILANT theme highlighted by Stefan Pöhlmann at the 11th European Meeting on Viral Zoonoses (Saint-Raphaël, Sept 20–23, 2025). Focus: how Sec61 targeting disrupts filovirus glycoprotein function and infectivity.
#ViralZoonoses #EMVZ #SaintRaphael
snpoehlm.bsky.social
But: it does matter for precautions - especially for vulnerable groups when weighing boosters and Long COVID risk.
snpoehlm.bsky.social
👉 Does this mean full hospitals? No.
👉 Changes in clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive practice? No.
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Some newer variants have relearned how to efficiently enter lung cells. If this feature appears in the right genetic background, increased capacity to cause disease might be the consequence.
isaacbogoch.bsky.social
Although the genetic fingerprint has shifted a bit, there is absolutely nothing new from a clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive perspective.

Are we really going to do this every time the virus mutates, which it will continue to do frequently & indefinitely?

Link: tinyurl.com/3kt32bm9
snpoehlm.bsky.social
You mean accelerate viral spread in the population beyond that observed for previous variants/predicted by models? I cannot say at this point. Let’s see whether the existence of the recombinant virus can be confirmed.
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Very interesting. This might boost cell entry and maintain antibody evasion - the combination that’s needed for high transmissibility.
#BA32
siamosolocani.bsky.social
EPI_ISL_20175638 is the first possible recombinant with Jn.1 if real and not artifact or contamination or coinfection it would be BA.3.2.2/NB.1.8.1/BA.3.2.2/NB.1.8.1 getting from 245 to 439 in the spike from NB.1.8.1 and getting back orf7ab/Orf8 and acquiring Orf9b:I5T all from NB.1.8.1
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Been traveling with little internet & almost missed it: BA.3.2 shows high frequency in infections but low in wastewater. Start of a JN.1-like spread, or just the last blip of a fading variant?

#BA32
Reposted by Stefan Poehlmann
vigilant-eu.bsky.social
Ebola poses a serious global threat. We hope for swift containment and are committed to research for future prevention.
cnn.com
CNN @cnn.com · Sep 6
A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is suspected of causing 15 deaths among 28 people with symptoms, the health ministry in the central African country said Thursday.
New Ebola outbreak in DR Congo suspected of causing 15 deaths | CNN
A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is suspected of causing 15 deaths among 28 people with symptoms, the health ministry in the central African country said Thursday.
www.cnn.com
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Furin activates viruses but blocking it specifically and potently is challenging. This study found a way 👀
vigilant-eu.bsky.social
1/
The protease furin activates dangerous viruses like H5N1. But since it has many close relatives, specifically targeting furin is a huge challenge.
#Virology #DrugDiscovery
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Many thanks. I will need some time to look at the data.
Just to clarify - are you suggesting that if fecal shedding of JN.1 were truly markedly enhanced, then observed case numbers should have been lower than predicted, but in fact they were not?
snpoehlm.bsky.social
However, I am only aware of the study above and am looking forward to the thoughts of @solidevidence.bsky.social
snpoehlm.bsky.social
Increased shedding of BA.2.86, JN.1 and potentially BA.3.2 would be in agreement with infection of intestinal tissue contributing to SARS-CoV-2 persistence in immunocompromised patients.