"...But now we are seeing the hyper-mutated BA.2.86 variant (known as “Pirola” in some circles), that came on the scene in August 2023 and I previously reviewed here, which carries >40 new mutations (34 in the spike protein alone) from its BA.2 ancestor, be the new path (a detour, if you will) with addition of the L455S mutation to be known as JN.1."