> Is it possible that the heavy mutations detected on the A.30 variant also make it less contagious?
That wouldn't surprise me. The spike is central to how SARS-CoV-2 is so infectious. If the virus mutates the spike too much, it might evade the vaccines, but at the cost of being less infectious.
What's surprising is this research says, in vitro, A.30 is more infectious.
Regardless, as you and others say, in real world conditions A.30 doesn't appear to out compete Delta.
That wouldn't surprise me. The spike is central to how SARS-CoV-2 is so infectious. If the virus mutates the spike too much, it might evade the vaccines, but at the cost of being less infectious.
What's surprising is this research says, in vitro, A.30 is more infectious.
Regardless, as you and others say, in real world conditions A.30 doesn't appear to out compete Delta.