There is a new mutation of the coronavirus. There are fears that B.1.525 will outsmart our defenses. Reason?

The UK variant of the coronavirus, called B.1.1.7, is spreading across Europe, causing infections to rise. Recently, Minister Niedzielski admitted that he was the main cause of the development of the third wave of the epidemic. Variants from South Africa and Brazil are also dangerous, and two variants of the coronavirus from the USA are also of concern. Scientists have just added another to the list of observed mutations. It is a variant of SARS-CoV-2 called B.1.525.

1. Information on the B.1.525 coronavirus mutation 15. it first appeared on December 2020, XNUMX. It was identified in a person from Great Britain.
2. As of February 20, 18 sequences for this variant have been identified in 204 countries.
3. The main concern is the E484K mutation present in B.1.525. There are concerns that it may reduce the effectiveness of some COVID-19 vaccines
4. At this point, the B.1.525 coronavirus variant is a rare mutation
5. You can find more about the coronavirus on the Onet homepage.

Another Coronavirus Variant Detected in UK and Other Countries

Viruses have mutated, mutated and will mutate, scientists and doctors remind. This also applies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It is estimated that there may already be several tens of thousands of mutations, most of which are neutral or harmful to the virus itself. Among them, however, there are variants that worry specialists. They should be studied in detail, both in laboratory conditions and in people infected with a given variant of the coronavirus.

There is a British variant on the list of “watched” mutations of the coronavirus, named B.1.1.7. It was first identified in the samples of swabs taken in September 2020. However, we found out about its existence in mid-December. According to WHO data from the end of January, it reached over 90 countries. There are places like Italy and the Czech Republic where it is the most common form of the coronavirus.

Other variants of the coronavirus are also drawing the attention of scientists. Information on them can be found in the articles:

1. Seven new variants of the coronavirus have been detected in the US. What do we know about them?
2. All about the British, Brazilian and South African variants

In Poland, the British SARS-CoV-2 mutation was discovered on January 21, and recently Minister Niedzielski admitted that it is the main reason for the development of the third wave of the epidemic in Poland. Moreover, the share of this mutation in the number of infections is growing dynamically. Progressive growth is also observed in other countries.

1. What variants of the coronavirus do we have in Poland? [WE EXPLAIN]

This is likely due to the greater contagiousness of the British variant of the coronavirus. A study by scientists from Harvard University suggests that this may be the result of a longer duration of infection – on average by five days – compared to the previously dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2. A group of NERVTAG experts advising the British government also estimates that infection with this British variant is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization.

The data do not indicate that the UK variant was more resistant to the current COVID-19 vaccines, a new version of the pathogen has recently been detected in the UK that may change this. What do we know about her?

Why is the B1525 variant worrying?

The mutation that has joined the list of closely watched coronavirus variants is B.1.525. Scientists are concerned about several mutations observed in B.1.525. The changes affect the gene that makes up the spike protein – the part of the virus that attaches to human cells.

It is primarily a mutation called E484K. Scientists are concerned that it may reduce the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. E484K is said to be an “escape mutation” because it is suspected that it may be able to partially bypass the immune system or otherwise escape some vaccine-produced antibodies. Research on this topic is ongoing. This mutation occurs in variants identified for the first time in South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P1).

So far, there is no evidence that the B.1.525 mutation leads to a more severe course of COVID-19.

New Coronavirus Variant – B.1.525. Where has he already appeared?

In the international GISAID database, which provides information about identified SARS-CoV-2 viruses, it first appeared on December 15, 2020. Variant B.1.525 was identified in a person from Great Britain. Of course, before it gained attention, it was spreading unnoticed throughout the world. As of February 20, 18 sequences for this variant have been identified in 204 countries.

More than half of the cases have been identified in Denmark and the UK, but it’s worth noting that these countries are sequencing multiple genomes for the coronavirus. At least one genome of variant B.1.525 to the GISAID database has been reported by Nigeria, the United States, France, Canada, Ghana, Australia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands, Jordan, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Mayotte (a French island in the Indian Ocean), Belgium and Spain. On February 25, the first case of this mutation was reported by Ireland.

Although the first recorded case of the B.1.525 mutation comes from the UK, it is suspected that the variant may have appeared in Nigeria earlier. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control statement on February 19 on coronavirus variants stated that the first B.1.525 genome detected was taken from a sample taken on November 23, 2020. However, it was not immediately entered into the database, so the one from the UK is the first to be registered . A total of 31 B.1.525 genomes were donated to Gisaid by Nigeria.

To date, variant B.1.525 has been detected in five states in Nigeria, and has also been reported in other countries in travelers from Nigeria.

It is worth emphasizing, however, that at this point the B.1.525 coronavirus variant is a rare mutation.

You may be interested in:

1. Prof. Gut: We have approx. 15 thousand. coronavirus mutation, but it is people’s behavior that determines the extent of the pandemic
2. Why does the coronavirus attack in waves and how to prevent them? The virologist has no doubts
3. What medications are better not to take before and after vaccination, and why? Experts explain

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