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T. Ryan Gregory Profile picture
@TRyanGregory
Apr 29 • 10 tweets • 4 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
It's likely that you'll be hearing more about another XBB descendant lineage, XBB.2.3*, alongside XBB.1.5 (Kraken), XBB.1.9.1 (Hyperion), and XBB.1.16 (Arcturus).

To aid communication, we're nicknaming XBB.2.3* "Acrux" (after the star en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrux).
This is in keeping with the new nicknaming system that uses astronomical names and includes information about the lineage (starts with A-H = BA.2 lineage) and recombinant ancestry (has an R in the name = recombinant descendant).

whn.global/common-names-f…
It's easy to track variant info thanks to amazing tools by folks like @Mike_Honey_, @RajlabN, and @nextstrain.

public.tableau.com/app/profile/ra…
Currently circulating XBB lineages that have earned nicknames based on mutations and traits (immune escape, ACE2 binding, etc.), growth advantage, and notable increase.

XBB.1.5 = Kraken*
XBB.1.9.1 = Hyperion
XBB.1.16 = Arcturus
XBB.2.3 = Acrux

(* Before the new naming system)
Officially, these and 1,100 other subvariants and recombinants are all "Omicron". As always, if nicknames are not useful for you, feel free to refer to the technical PANGO labels.
Also, note that the pronunciation of "Acrux" is A as in "space" and U as in "trucks".

space.com/3250-stars-pro…
I guess some are using hashtags:

#Kraken (XBB.1.5*)
#Hyperion (XBB.1.9*)
#Arcturus (XBB.1.16*)
#Acrux (XBB.2.3*)

Note that prefixes roll over to new letters (with no X to indicate recombinants) after three levels of descendants, e.g. FU.1 and FU.2 are Arcturus descendants.
To help avoid confusion, please note:

XBB.1.5* (Kraken) descendants include PANGO prefixes EK*, EL*, EM*, EU*, FD*, FH*, and FT*

XBB.1.9* (Hyperion) descensants include EG* and FL*,

XBB.1.16* (Arcturus) descendants include FU*

github.com/cov-lineages/p…

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More from @TRyanGregory

T. Ryan Gregory Profile picture
Apr 29
The authors of the report and especially the media who made very strong claims about raccoon dogs (looking at you, The Atlantic) need to significantly walk back the hype that was generated.
Huh. Flo Debarre blocked me for ...
Anyway, this needs to be walked back. Wishy washy "we mostly agree" threads aren't enough.

theatlantic.com/science/archiv…
Read 4 tweets
T. Ryan Gregory Profile picture
Apr 26
💯. I fully expect some in middle leadership positions at @uofg to try to deflect the blame (senior admin probably not because they have to kiss Ford's ring). The province starving universities and destructive mismanagement at @uofg are two major problems.
To be clear: every university in Ontario is feeling the effects of government policies. But @uofg is doing exceptionally poorly because of financial mismanagement and erosion of collegial governance by the current senior admin. Now they are panicked and causing even more damage.
I say the senior administration, but the Board of Governors is complicit in putting us in this position and continues to be complicit as long as they refuse to exercise oversight or impose accountability. If we go "full Laurentian", it's on them *and* the senior admin. "Going full Laurentian...
Read 5 tweets
T. Ryan Gregory Profile picture
Apr 15
"Arcturus" is being used in many reports about the XBB.1.16 variant. This was specifically NOT a "scary" name, it's not a mythological creature (it's a star), and it's not causing confusion.

google.com/search?q=arctu…
Nicknames remain useful, especially now that @WHO has changed the rules for Greek letters to make it almost certain that it will all be "Omicron" unless something arises in a new lineage. They have one variant of interest (XBB.1.5, "Kraken") but VOIs don't get letters anymore.
@WHO also has a (rather outdated) list of variants under minitoring, all of which got nicknames weeks or even months ago:

BA.2.75 (Centaurus)
CH.1.1 (Orthrus)
BQ.1 (Typhon)
XBB (Gryphon)
XBB.1.16 (Arcturus)
XBB.1.9.1 (Hyperion)
XBF (Bythos)

who.int/activities/tra…
Read 5 tweets
T. Ryan Gregory Profile picture
Apr 11
I'm NOT saying "See, COVID messes up our immune systems!"

But minimizers DO say "If COVID affects immune systems there'd be many abnormal fungal and bacterial infections, and that isn't happening."

So how much until we take the hypothesis seriously?

cnn.com/2023/04/10/hea…
nbcnews.com/health/health-…
ktla.com/news/superbug-…
Read 18 tweets
T. Ryan Gregory Profile picture
Apr 6
Just to keep things clear(ish) if you're trying to follow variants:
🧵

XBB.1.5 ("Kraken") is the dominant variant in the world right now. We haven't seen this level of dominance by a single variant since pre-Omicron-soup.

public.tableau.com/app/profile/ra…

1/
Fortunately, and as some of us said from the outset, XBB.1.5 (Kraken) has not caused major waves of infections/hospitalizations/deaths. However, it has contributed to the pattern of ups and downs around an unsustainably high baseline in many places.



2/
With some very notable exceptions (e.g., China, where it's largely BF.7.14 and BA.5.2.48 derivatives), there are very few BA.5* lineage variants still present in significant percentages, after BA.5s (incl. BQ.1/BQ.1.1) caused waves in some places.

public.tableau.com/app/profile/ra…

/3
Read 8 tweets
T. Ryan Gregory Profile picture
Apr 5
The Provost at @uofg has never taught a course here at any level of any size.

I have taught >10,000 students, at every level from 1st year through 4th year and post-graduate. Huge lectures and small seminars, classroon/lab/field, in person and remote, solo and team taught.

1/
I think about this fact when I hear of possible decisions from the top like "cancel all courses with enrollments less than 15 students". I think about how I have taught courses with 400, 600, even 1,000 students, and other courses with 10 or 12.

2/
Some of the most impactful courses I have done -- for the students and for me as an educator and scholar -- have been in-depth, small discussion format courses and field courses. Those can be life-changing for students, lead to grad student recruitment, and inspire research.

3/
Read 4 tweets

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