The Virus That Won’t Quit: SARS-CoV-2’s LP.8.1 Variant and Its Spawn LP.8.1.1 Causes New COVID-19 Surges
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 23, 2025 1 day, 12 hours, 6 minutes ago
Medical News: March 23, 2025 - As the world nears the fifth year of grappling with SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19 proves it’s not ready to fade into history. The latest players in this ongoing saga are the LP.8.1 variant (JN.1.11.1.1.1.3.8.1), and its subvariant LP.8.1.1, which are sparking new infection surges across the globe. With scientists racing to decode their genetic tricks, these variants are a stark reminder of the virus’s relentless adaptability. This
Medical News report takes a deep dive into what LP.8.1 and LP.8.1.1 are, their mutations, growth rates, origins, and the regions feeling their impact.
The Virus That Won’t Quit: SARS-CoV-2’s LP.8.1 Variant and Its Spawn LP.8.1.1
Causes New COVID-19 Surges
What are the LP.8.1 and LP.8.1.1 variants?
LP.8.1 is a descendant of the JN.1 lineage, itself a branch of the Omicron family that has dominated since 2021. Emerging in late 2024, LP.8.1 caught researchers’ attention with its unique spike protein mutations, as detailed in a peer-reviewed study from The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(25)00079-9/fulltext
LP.8.1.1, its subvariant, appeared soon after, inheriting many of its parent’s traits while adding its own genetic twists. These variants are classified as Variants Under Monitoring (VUM) by the World Health Organization (WHO), reflecting their rising prevalence and potential threat.
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81
Genetic Mutations and Their Implications
The spike protein mutations in LP.8.1 include deletions at position 31 (Ser31del) and substitutions such as Phe186Leu, R346T, V445R, and F456L. Functional studies have shown that while some mutations like Ser31del and Phe186Leu may enhance infectivity, others such as V445R could increase binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor, potentially affecting transmissibility. Conversely, mutations like His445Arg and Phe456Leu have been associated with reduced pseudovirus infectivity in laboratory settings. Despite these in vitro findings, the real-world transmission dynamics of LP.8.1 suggest that factors beyond spike protein mutations, possibly involving non-spike regions, contribute to its spread.
LP.8.1.1 carries the K679R mutation, creating an additional furin cleavage site in the spike protein. The functional consequences of this mutation are still under investigation, but it may influence the virus's entry into host cells and its overall infectivity.
Growth Trends and Epidemiological Impact
Since its emergence, LP.8.1 has shown a steady increase in prevalence. By January 2025, it
accounted for approximately 7% of globally sequenced SARS-CoV-2 cases, up from 1.9% in December 2024. This upward trend has been observed across multiple WHO regions, including the Americas, Europe, and the Western Pacific. The relative effective reproduction number (Re) of LP.8.1 is slightly higher than that of the XEC variant, indicating a modest growth advantage.
https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/epp/tracking-sars-cov-2/03022025_lp.8.1_ire.pdf
https://www.contagionlive.com/view/global-spread-of-the-lp-8-1-sars-cov-2-variant-insights-into-transmission-dynamics-and-immune-resistance
The subvariant LP.8.1.1 has also been detected with increasing frequency, particularly in Asia and North America. Its rapid spread suggests a potential for higher transmissibility or immune evasion, although further studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses.
Geographical Distribution and Regional Impact
In the United States, LP.8.1 has become the dominant variant, responsible for approximately 47% of COVID-19 cases as of mid-March 2025. This surge has been particularly pronounced in the Midwest, with states like Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan reporting elevated case numbers. Wastewater surveillance data corroborate these findings, indicating high levels of SARS-CoV-2 in these regions.
https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/what-covid-19-variants-are-going-around
https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-variants.html
Globally, LP.8.1 and LP.8.1.1 have been identified in multiple countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In Japan, these variants have contributed to a sustained increase in cases, while the UK has observed a recent doubling of infections attributed to LP.8.1.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/covid-variant-lp-8-1-091009076.html
Implications for Public Health and Vaccination
The emergence of LP.8.1 and LP.8.1.1 highlights the ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the challenges it poses to public health. While current vaccines, particularly those based on the JN.1 lineage, are expected to provide protection against severe disease caused by these variants, their efficacy against mild or asymptomatic infection may be reduced. This underscores the importance of booster vaccinations and the potential need for updated vaccine formulations to match circulating variants.
Continued genomic surveillance, coupled with functional studies of emerging variants, is crucial for informing public health strategies and ensuring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.
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Medical News.
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