IFNA1 and COVID-19: Importantly, we do note that increased Gal-8 cleavagewas observed in Mpro mutations T21I, S46F, E47K and L50Fand R279C found in the Delta SARS-CoV-2 VOC (Figure 3E), which has been linked to IFN suppressionand higher virulence.48 In clinical samples,a low production of IFN-γ was associated with more severe casesof COVID-19,49 and accordingly the DeltaVOC is able to produce high viral loads and increased transmissioncompared to other VOCs.50,51