Study shows T cells can tackle new ‘Pirola’ SARS-CoV-2 variant

In August, researchers detected a new SARS-CoV-2 “variant of concern” in patients in Israel and Denmark. Since then, this variant, dubbed BA.2.86 or “Pirola,” has made its way around the globe. The Pirola variant has raised alarms because it is highly mutated. In fact, Pirola is as mutated as the omicron variant was, compared with the early SARS-CoV-2 variant included in the original vaccinations.