Why We Nickname COVID-19 Variants After Asteroids, Mythical Creatures, and Stars
Using common names for COVID-19 variants is more effective in communicating complex science.
Covid-19 variants are constantly evolving and spreading around the world. Scientists use a complex system of letters and numbers to identify and classify them based on their genetic differences.
However, for most people, this system is hard to understand and remember. That’s why some variants have been given nicknames based on the countries or regions where they were first detected or became dominant.
For non-technical personnel saying omicron variant JN.1 is closer to BA.2.86 than BA.2.85 is day-light sorcery. It just doesn’t make sense, hence the use of nicknames where JN.1 and BA.2.86 are still called Pirola (named after an asteroid) makes sense.
The scientific naming or Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreaks (PANGO) lineage naming of COVID-19 variants is a logical way to name them for scientists with a technical background. However, for non-technical communication, it can be confusing.
This is because the PANGO lineage naming system does not consider similar lineage prefixes such as XBB* or BA* to indicate similarity in the sequences. Instead, it uses the order of designation. For instance, JL.1 is an alternative name for B.1.1.529.2.75.3.4.1.1.1.1.17.1.3.2.1, which is quite lengthy.
This lineage has gone through a number of prefixes in this order B then BA then CH then FK and now JL. For the purpose of minimizing confusion, JN.1 is not at all closer to JL.1 than it is to BA.2.86
It used to be that there was only one variant causing COVID-19, and only one wave of infections. However, with the emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, this is no longer the case. Currently, COVID-19 cases are being caused by a soup of Omicron subvariants, and there is mounting pressure to keep up with this constantly evolving virus.
Initially, the concept of assigning nicknames to different COVID-19 variants like Kraken (a mystical sea monster) or Arcturus (a star) was not widely welcomed by many, including both technical and non-technical individuals.
However, it is now becoming necessary to adopt this practice, even for someone like me who is an Evolutionary Virologist studying COVID-19 variants, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the constant developments. For instance, it can be challenging to keep track of the fact that EG.5 is a descendant of XBB.1.9.
This can be translated to say that EG.5 is more closely related to XBB.1.9 than XBB.1.5 (Kraken). There is only 1 mutation between EG.5 and XBB.1.9.1, whereas there are a couple of mutations between XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.9 (besides the S protein).
Let's say this new variant, a descendant of BA.2.86 (Pirola) which inherited a Delta mutation S:T95I — a notation for saying there is Spike (S) substitution of Threonine (T) by Isoleucine (I)amino acid at position 59 — is to be named logically, it might get a prefix BA.2.86.2 but its descendant might be named KA.1 (considering J* is full).
BA.2.86 (Pirola), JL.1 (or BA.2.86.1), and e.g., KA.1(or BA.2.86.2.1) would be genetically similar but not evident from their scientific names. However, all these would be grouped under the Pirola clan, unless there are major mutational changes.
To illustrate my point, let’s take a look at the Kraken clan, which currently consists of the following prefixes: XBB.1.5*, EK, EL, EM, EU, FD, FG, FH, FT, FZ, GB, GC, GF, GG, GK, GN, GR, GU, GV, HA, HC, HD, HJ, HM, HP, HQ, HR, HS, HT, HY, HZ, JB, JD, and JK. It can be quite challenging to keep up with all of these prefixes. However, if we simply nickname them all Kraken clan, it would make everyone’s life a bit easier.
Many scientists have lost sight of the true meaning of science as a domain of knowledge based on reproducibility and solid evidence. Nowadays, science has become a very specialized discipline where research papers are often limited to a narrow group of colleagues who understand specific jargon, instead of being a way to communicate with a wider audience.
Many scientists, especially amateurs, believe that using big and confusing words is a sign of intelligence. However, I think that true intelligence lies in the ability to simplify complex ideas into easier terms.
I say this because at one point in my life, when I started learning biological terms, which are quite difficult to understand, I fell into the trap of using jargon-filled sentences that didn’t convey any meaning.
My point is that using chains of letters, full stops, and numbers to describe something that can be explained by a single word is not helpful for non-technical personnel, who make up about 99% of the population. For example, “Kraken” can be used to describe how something is rapidly spreading and causing destruction.
However, the Pango lineage is a logical way to keep up with the ever-evolving COVID-19 variants. It is mainly useful for evolutionary virologists who can keep up with the latest developments in this field, as it can be challenging for non-experts to understand.
