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The mutant coronavirus discovered in Great Britain has reached Austria: it has been detected in four people. Another person had a South African mutant.
The British mutant of the coronavirus has already been detected in 32 countries around the world. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said this on Monday. These include 15 European countries, such as Germany, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Greece and Switzerland, and now also Austria.
In addition to the variant of the virus that was discovered in Britain in September, one that originated in South Africa has now been discovered in Austria. Geneticist Andreas Bergthaler from the Center for Research for Molecular Medicine, CeMM, explained: “The variants have arrived, we have provided evidence for that.” When asked how widespread mutants are in Austria, he said: “It’s probably not incredibly strong.”
1 In which people were the mutants detected?
Four people were found carrying the British variant. His samples were taken at the Vienna International Airport. A man who arrived from London on December 21 went into home quarantine. His symptoms were very mild, as explained by Franz Allerberger, Head of Public Health at the Austrian Health Agency Ages. A twelve-year-old Austrian who arrived from England with her family on December 18 had mild symptoms, namely a runny nose. The British line has also been tested on two boys, aged 9 and 10, from Slovakia. Furthermore, on December 6, the South African virus variant was discovered in a 30-year-old Austrian on vacation in South Africa. This woman was symptomatic for 18 days and therefore unusually prolonged.
In the airport cases, according to Allerberger, the contact tracing worked very well: “There were no verifiable infections between friends.” The twelve-year-old girl had not infected her mother either. The Slovak children returned directly to Slovakia with their father. In general, none of the “British cases” are currently in Austria.
2 Let’s briefly talk about the terminology: What is a mutant?
A mutant of a living being, and a virus can be seen as such with some leniency, is a variant whose genetic material (genome) has one or more mutations. The British Sars-CoV-2 mutant (generally called B.1.1.7.) Has a number of mutations, some of them in the gene for the spike protein with which the virus attaches itself to cells.
3 And what exactly is a mutation then?
A mutation occurs accidentally due to an error that often occurs when genetic material is duplicated. It consists in the fact that one or more bases – the letters of the genetic information, so to speak – are changed or missing. If a mutation is in a gene, that is, in the construction instructions of a protein, it can change its function, usually in a way that is fatal to the living being. But sometimes it can accidentally bring you an advantage and thus assert yourself (with the mutant you carry) in a certain environment. In the case of the British mutant, it is most likely a mutation called N501Y, which is found directly in the part of the spike protein that makes contact with the receptor in human cells. The South African mutant has a different bouquet of mutations, but N501Y has them too.
4 What does this mutation do? And what makes them dangerous?
This mutation should facilitate mating, which will undoubtedly benefit the virus you carry and help it spread further. Some epidemiologists say this apparently supported the more rapid spread of Covid in southern England. The N501Y mutation is unlikely to make the disease worse. Of course, other mutations carried by these mutants could, but it doesn’t look like that at the moment.
5 What is sequencing, what is it for?
By sequencing genetic material (DNA in our case, RNA in the virus), all the bases are read and mutations are discovered. Of course, you cannot sequence the RNA of all viruses found in infected people. Therefore, it is quite possible that mutants are more common in Austria than is currently known.
6 What is being done now to prevent further spread?
According to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens), there is a strong focus on European cooperation. There will continue to be strict entry controls. In addition, there are landing bans for British machines. “We illuminated a cone of light in a dark barn,” Anschober said. “Now the cone of light has to be wider. We need to get more knowledge. “
(APA / Red.)
