Scientists, studying the widely reported mutation in the new coronavirus, believe there are still too many ‘unknowns’ when it comes to the effects of the mutation. The new lineage, codenamed B.1.1.7, has been widely traced in recent cases in the UK. Here’s a summary of what the leading experts have to say about the reported mutation in the UK.
IS THE MUTATION AN ABNORMAL VIRUS?
“This is quite normal for viruses, such as influenza, where different viruses can infect the same person, leading to the appearance of a hybrid virus. This is just one of the ways that natural viral variation arises,” he said. Dr. Julian Tang, a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester explained.
However, any change in the behavior of the virus depends on the nature and extent of the mutation in any virus, including the one that causes Covid-19.
“Coronaviruses mutate all the time. Therefore, it is not unexpected that new variants of SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19] are emerging, we see this all the time in other human and animal coronaviruses, “said Professor Julian Hiscox, President of Infections and Global Health at the University of Liverpool.
WHY IS B.1.1.7 SIGNIFICANT?
Since its detection in Wuhan, China, SARS-CoV-2 has undergone many changes. But, according to preliminary genomic characterization, the UK variant B.1.1.7 has an unusually large number of genetic changes, particularly in the spike protein that is often responsible for how the virus interacts with a human cell.
The reason you have set off alarms in the UK and thus elsewhere – firstly, this particular lineage accounts for a growing proportion of cases in parts of the UK and secondly the number of linked cases, as well as regions reporting B.1.1.7 infections, have gone down increase.
This has forced many countries to impose restrictions on travel to the UK.. The Indian government is also seeking expert advice in this regard.
DOES IT AFFECT THE TEST RESULTS?
“One of the mutations in the new variant removes six bases in the viral genome that encode amino acids 69 and 70 of the peak protein. By coincidence, this region is one of the three genomic targets used by some PCR tests, and by therefore, in those tests, that channel is negative in the new variant, “explains Dr. Jeffrey Barrett, Director of the SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK.
However, if the PCR tests use the other two channels, unaffected by the mutation, the tests should work fine.
“I am not aware of any commercial tests that use a single target on this part of the viral genome. But if there is one, it must be carefully investigated,” said Dr. Barrett.
Dr. Robert Shorten, Chairman of the Professional Committee for Microbiology at the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, said: “Laboratories know which genes their tests are targeting and are vigilant in verifying test performance. The tests PCR tests would generally detect more than one target gene, so a mutation in the spike protein would not affect the detection of other viral gene targets. “
IS IT THE NEW MOST DANGEROUS VARIANT?
UK government officials suspect that the new variant could be more transmittable than previous versions of the virus. While scientists are still trying to understand the precise explanation for this, some of them agree with the government’s reasoning.
Professor Peter Openshaw, former president of the British Immunology Society, said: “It is correct to take it seriously. Although there are only 23 mutations in the 30,000 nucleotide genetic code, the variant appears between 40 and 70% more transmissible.”
However, he said there is no evidence at the moment that the new variant causes a different disease than that caused by previous variants.
Dr. James Gill, Honorary Clinical Professor at Warwick School of Medicine, said: “We are still waiting to learn more about this new strain and that should be the key information here. It appears to be more contagious, but we don’t know if it is more or less dangerous. Therefore, the strongest restrictions are sensible. “
WILL VACCINATION AND TREATMENT AFFECT?
Although the mutation in the virus appears to be significant, experts have found no reason to suggest that the new mutation would affect vaccination so far.
The UK government’s advisory body, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (NERVTAG) has also published a paper on this.
“We are not seeing any increase in virulence [clinical severity] or any sudden change in the S [spike protein] that will reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine, until now, “said Dr. Tang in response to the NERVTAG article.
Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust, agrees, but gives a warning. He said: “At the moment, there is no indication that this new strain eludes treatments and vaccines. However, the mutation is a reminder of the power of the virus to adapt and that cannot be ruled out in the future.”
