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The British government announced the discovery of a new variant of the emerging corona virus in some areas of the country, and indicated that research on this “rise” of the virus continues.
The new virus mutation was identified after an increase in cases of this mutated type, in London and Kent County, in the southeast of the country.
According to the site, the new type of virus was named “VUI – 202012/01”.
The recent development of the virus has witnessed at least 17 mutations that can affect its external shape, especially in the spinal protrusions.
According to health authorities, the recent change has caused a mutation in the protein that forms the characteristic bumps on the surface of the Corona virus, which helps it adhere to and damage human cells.
It is possible that this mutation, in this particular part, gives the virus a greater ability to infect and spread more easily between people.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new change in the virus makes it “more transmittable” by up to 70 percent. However, studies are still ongoing in this regard.
According to the “COG-UK” coalition specialized in tracking the Corona virus in Great Britain, the latest variant of the virus carries a number of mutations, including the “N501Y” mutation.
The N501Y mutation occurred specifically in the part that promoted the binding of the virus protrusions to the “ACE2” receptors carried by human cells.
Since December 13, Britain has dealt with 1,108 cases of infection with this mutated type of the emerging corona virus, most of which were detected in the southern and eastern regions of the country.
Not the first
“The Scientist” notes that this mutation is not the first of its kind in this part of the virus, as the “614G” mutation occurred recently in protein spurs, preceded by another “614D” mutation in the spring, and caused no cases. more serious infection.
However, some studies have indicated that these mutations can cause the infection to spread further, without affecting its severity.
Evolution is normal in viruses
“We are investigating a new strain of SARS-Cove-2, mainly in Kent and the surrounding areas,” said Susan Hopkins, medical adviser for testing and tracing at the Public Health Agency of England, the Public Health Agency of England.
He added that “the virus is not expected to evolve,” but that “it is important that we discover any changes quickly to understand the potential risks that any variable can pose.”
According to the consultant, “there is currently no evidence that this strain causes an increased risk of disease.”
According to the alliance, the changes appear naturally in the genomes of the virus scientifically known as “SARS-Cove-2”, with one or two mutations per month compared to the most widespread strain of the virus in the world.
The coalition confirms that thousands of mutations have already occurred in the virus since its first appearance in 2019, but the vast majority of them did not have a clear effect on the course of the virus.
He notes that it will be difficult to predict whether any mutation is of particular importance immediately after its first appearance, since it takes thousands of mutations to track it down. However, scientists’ attention remains focused on the “greatest concern” of changes that may lead to increased infection rates or vaccine failure.
The coalition emphasizes the need for urgent more studies on the recent boom and its possible effects.
It will not affect the vaccine.
It points out that there is the possibility that the spread of vaccines among members of society causes mutations that “allow the virus to escape the effect of the vaccine.”
Despite this, experts in the field of infectious diseases rule out that the virus currently has the ability to develop in a way that makes it resistant to the vaccines that have been developed.
The “Washington Post” newspaper quoted an expert in the field of infectious diseases from Northwestern University, Egon Ozer, as saying: “It seems difficult to see that this virus can develop far from the efficacy of the vaccine.”
The recent surge in the virus has prompted restrictions to be reaffirmed and closures imposed in London and parts of the country that anticipated lifting of restrictions during the holidays.
