The plant-based antiviral agent thapsigargin (TG), derived from a group of poisonous plants known as 'deadly carrots', appears to be effective against all variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the lab – and that includes the quick-spreading Delta variant.

The cell culture study also confirmed the higher replication rate and cell-to-cell transmission rate of the Delta variant: it was found to spread at four times the rate of the Alpha variant of coronavirus and at nine times the rate of the Beta variant.

If someone succumbs to two variants of SARS-CoV-2 at the same time, then Delta acts as an extra boost for whatever other variant it's partnering up with.

"Even though we have shown that this variant is clearly the most infectious and promotes production of other variants in co-infections, we are pleased to have shown that TG is just as effective against all of them.".