The new strain of coronavirus in the UK – with significant mutations – Diseases

British scientists are trying to determine whether the rapid spread in southern England of a new variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is related to the key mutations they have detected in it, Reuters reported.

The mutations are associated with changes in the spine protein that SARS-CoV-2 uses to infect the human cell. It is not yet clear whether this mutation makes it more infectious, BTA reported.

“Our efforts are focused on confirming whether these mutations are contributing to faster spread,” said a team of scientists from the British COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium.

The new strain, named “VUI – 202012/01” by scientists, includes a genetic mutation in a protein that could theoretically lead to easier spread of COVID-19 in humans.

The British government on Monday announced an increase in new infections, which may be related in part to the new strain.

Since its inception, the new coronavirus has constantly mutated, with an average “rate” of one to two mutations per month globally, according to experts from the British consortium. Most of the mutations observed so far have not particularly affected the new coronavirus. Very few of them can change it in any significant way, such as making it more prone to infecting people quickly and causing more serious infections.

The new coronavirus mutation detected in Britain does not pose a great danger to humans, although it may be more contagious, TASS reported, citing David Nabaro of the World Health Organization in an interview with Sky News.