Designate 25D (MC.10.2.1), 25E (PY.1), 25F (NW.1.2), 25G (XFC), 25H (XFJ), and 25I (BA.3.2).

[corneliusroemer]

Designate Clades 25D, 25E, 25F, 25G, 25H, and 25I

With this PR, we are designating 6 new clades: 25D (MC.10.2.1), 25E (PY.1), 25F (NW.1.2), 25G (XFC), 25H (XFJ), and 25I (BA.3.2).

25D (MC.10.2.1)

MC.10.2.1 descends from KP.3.1.1 (24E) (JN.1 + S31- + F456L + Q493E) with extra Spike mutations S:I101T, S:A376N, S:K679R.

Key Spike mutations: S:T22N, S:S31-, S:L455S, S:F456L, S:Q493E, S:K679R.

First detected in 2024-10 in New Zealand. It grew to ~30% in New Zealand in the first half of 2025. Sublineage PE.1.4 has also spread successfully in Australia. In both countries, MC.10.2.1 made up around a third of sequences in the second half of 2025.

25E (PY.1)

PY.1 (alias of LF.7.9.1.1) is an LF.7 sublineage characterized by Spike mutations S:L441R, S:H445P, and S:A475V.

It appears to have arisen in India where it reached around 20-30% in the second quarter of 2025. It also reached 50% in Portugal in May 2025.

Sublineage PY.1.1.1 with extra S:K679R and S:A435S has spread globally at a level of ~1-2%.

25F (NW.1.2)

NW.1.2 is an LP.8.1 descendant characterized by S:T22N, S:N487D, and S:A1174V.

It is the most successful LP.8.1 sublineage and was particularly common in the Philippines, reaching 50% in mid-2025.

25G (XFC)

XFC is a recombinant of LP.8.1.1 and LF.7 with breakpoints at positions 8818-12891 and 22120-22892 (LF.7 sandwiched between LP.8.1.1), adding S:T22N, S:S31P and S:K182R from LF.7 to an LP.8.1.1 backbone (while dropping S:F186L). The T22N + S31P combination appears to provide selective advantage over LP.8.1.1.

XFC arose in late 2024 and was particularly successful in South America, especially Argentina where it made up 45% of all sequences in 2025.

25H (XFJ)

XFJ is a complex 3-breakpoint recombinant of LS.2.1.1 and LF.7.2 (pattern: LS.2/LF.7.2/LS.2/LF.7.2).

Key Spike mutations: S:T22N, S:K182R, S:R190S, S:R346T, S:L441R, S:H445P, S:F456L, S:A475V, S:T791A.

From LF.7: T22N, K182R, R190S, R346T. From LS.2: L441R, H445P, F456L, A475V, T791A.

First identified on 2024-08-26 in Cote d'Ivoire.

It was particularly common in under sampled regions in West Africa where it likely reached 20% or more and also in France where it peaked at 10% in mid-2025.

25I (BA.3.2)

BA.3.2 is a BA.3 saltation lineage that has arisen in Southern Africa in late 2024 and is particularly successfully spreading in Australia and Germany.

The ancestral BA.3.2 hasn't been observed. All detections are BA.3.2.1 (with S:H681R, S:P1162R) or BA.3.2.2 (with S:K356T, S:A575S). BA.3.2.2 appears fitter, likely due to beneficial S:K356T (advantageous in BA.2.75, XBB, and present in all BA.2.86).

First detected November 2024 in South Africa (Gauteng, collected 2024-11-22).

For more details on BA.3.2 mutational patterns: cov-lineages/pango-designation#2909

Pre-merge checklist

• ncov file updates for all 6 clades
• Explain in PR why we are elevating each lineage
• Check trial builds for all clades
• PR approval

Post-merge checklist

• Add all 6 new variants (with new names) to Nextclade dataset color_ordering.tsv
• Update clade diagram figure
• Trigger full runs on GISAID & Genbank once Nextclade updated
• Tweet about new variants