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The UK Health Minister announced that scientists studying the coronovirus genome have described a new strain of SARS-CoV-2. It shows characteristic mutations in the protein that the virus uses to attach to human cells. The discovery raised a wave of doubts as to whether everyone who had already had COVID-19 would be immune to the new virus mutations, and most importantly, whether the vaccine would work against them.
- The first time a new strain – VUI – 202012/01 – was described at the end of September
- Microbiologist, prof. Loman: – A long gap between the first cases in late September and the current spike in infections indicates that a new strain is likely developed in the UK
- Modeling results show that the new SARS-CoV-2 variant spreads very quickly
- Mutations within the virus’s output protein are very important as the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine acts on this protein
- You can find more about the coronavirus on the TvoiLokony home page
A new strain took over London and Southeast England. It is characterized by as many as 17 mutations in the spike protein, which attaches to human cells.
– We found 17 mutations that influenced the protein structure and clearly distinguish this variant from its ancestor. That’s a lot – says prof. Nick Loman from the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham.
The new strain, named VUI – 202012/01, was first identified in Kent in September. Online data from the local laboratory indicate that the first case of the new virus was reported on September 20. It appears to play a significant role in the current wave of infection across London and the south-east of the country.
There have been over 1000 confirmed cases of infection with the new strain virus, mostly in southern England. The British COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium (COG-UK) has confirmed that it is now responsible for most infections and is spreading faster than the dominant strain to datewhich was imported from Spain in the summer.
There are suspicions that the mutations made the virus more virulent, but the science has dampened these fears. Even if the virus spreads faster, it does not have to cause higher mortality at the same time. Some viruses evolve to become less virulent and therefore survive longer.
When a virus infects human cells, it multiplies, forcing them to read its RNA and produce more viruses. These replicas are designed to be exactly the same, but sometimes cells can misread the genetic code of the virus and introduce an error. This is just a mutation.
Other causes of the mutation include interactions with other viruses that infect the same cell and the response of our immune system, which, according to scientists, is the cause of most SARS-CoV-2 mutations.
Of the three bases that code for an amino acid, only one is incorrect. Instead of AAU, there is UAU. This single change affected the structure of the spike protein. In addition, two amino acids, called H69 / V70, which are in the receptor binding domain, the point where it attaches to the ACE2 receptor, have disappeared from the protein.
The history of the new strain was reported on the internet by the Neher Lab at the University of Basel. After it was first officially registered in September, the new virus spread slowly and only accelerated in late October, triggering a second wave of epidemics in England. Scientists speculate that either the new strain is spreading faster and is more virulent, or it is simply more common and the number of infections caused by it is increasing naturally.
During the first wave of the epidemic, Great Britain reported an average of only 3. 700 coronavirus test positive per day, and in early November, when the tests became popular, the average number of positive results rose to 23. daily.
– A long gap between the first cases from the end of September and the current increase in the number of infections – says prof. Loman – indicates that a possibly new strain originated in Great Britain. In other countries, very few cases of this variant have been reported. And the reason we’re bringing it to public attention is because it spreads faster than other strains.
It is believed that he triggered approx. 20 percent. new infections in Norfolk.
– In Great Britain many strains are circulating, so the key issue is to observe the increase in transmission over time – says prof. Tom Connor. – And the initial modeling results show that in this case it is remarkably fast.
In the COG-UK report on a new strain, we read: “It is difficult to predict whether a given mutation is significant the moment it occurs because mutations occur continuously. We are trying to confirm whether any of these mutations contribute to the increase in transmission ».
People who have had COVID-19 or are vaccinated develop antibodies to protect them from reinfection. But they are extremely specific. Antibodies from one virus will not work on another. They may also not work against other strains of the same virus. An example is the flu, which we are not immune to because flu viruses mutate very quickly. However, scientists found that the SARS-CoV-2 mutation rate is low compared to influenza viruses or, for example, HIV.
One concern with the new strain was that antibodies developed for another may not work on the mutant version. If the spike proteins that bind to the ACE2 receptor, allowing the virus to infect the cell, are modified, the virus can ‘slip’ through the body’s defenses. These modifications are extremely important as most COVID-19 vaccines, including the approved and administered Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, act on this protein.
At the moment, however, it seems that the only possible threat from the new strain is that the virus is spreading faster, and it is unlikely that it would be more virulent or affect the effectiveness of vaccines.
Scientists, including England’s chief physician Chris Whitty, say there is “currently no evidence” that the new variant would have any effect on the effectiveness of the vaccine.
The COG-UK researchers write: “Virus evolution is perfectly normal. The vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 mutations have no apparent effect on the virus. The coronavirus has mutated thousands of times since it was discovered last December, but no mutation has changed it fundamentally ».
“Our health minister is spreading panic when he announces a new strain of the coronavirus to justify tightening restrictions and another lockdown in London,” said Professor Jonathan Ball, virologist at the University of Nottingham. – At the moment, there is no evidence that this particular virus variant can spread faster. We suspect that some mutations may affect the behavior of the virus, but we haven’t done lab testing yet, so we shouldn’t be making any announcements.
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- New mutation of the coronavirus in the UK. It spreads faster
- “High risk” of the third wave of COVID-19 in early 2021. WHO’s appeal for the holidays
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