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COVID: a new strain from England Latest data from the scientific community
COVID – New England strain – On December 22, the New York Times reported the latest facts about the new SARS-2 coronavirus detected in England. So that the international community is not confused
Is the new SARS 2 in England a new virus?
No Because the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that was recently discovered in England is simply a mutated virus. The name of the strain is B. 1.1.7 (VUI-202012/01), and mutations occur naturally in the virus all the time.
How important are these two new varieties of SARS?
important From the genetic analysis of the SARS 2 virus, the first strain of B.1.1.7 was detected in England. Since the beginning of December. But the researchers found an increasing frequency of detections. From patients with coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 from southern England You can trace its origin to September.
After such analysis the scientists found The genetic code or genome of the virus contains 23 mutations in total, and the examination shows that most of the mutations are harmful to the virus itself. Or no effect. But when it came to the specimen named B.1.1.7, it was found that there was a mutation that could result in easier contact.
AND B. 1.1.7 Is it really easier to contact?
real Due to preliminary evaluation by scientists, it was found that B. 1.1.7 can be contacted more easily. This is reflected in the outbreak of the subspecies in southern England. Until there is a large quantity, comparable to the main strains that have been spread for several months.
However, scientists continue to question whether B.1.1.7 could be spreading rapidly due to other causes such as coincidence, for example B.1.1.7. Can initiate outbreaks in crowded areas Facilitating contact
But the genomic evidence from the previous analyzes is undeniable that B.1.1.7 has a higher epidemic capacity. It corresponds to the number of COVID-19 patients that soared in areas where this subspecies was affected.
Professor Neil Ferguson of the College of London estimated that B. 1.1.7 had an estimated 50-70% increase in person-to-person transmission compared to the major species.
As for the cause of the mutation to b.1.1.7, virologist Professor Wendy Barkley of the College of London assumed that part of it was due to the spread of the virus to children. The risk of infection and transmission is lower than that of adolescents and adults. But preliminary studies indicate that B. 1.1.7 may already have the ability to infect children in the same age group as other age groups.
The assumption is based on animal experiments on two subspecies of the SARS virus, 614G, that occurred at the beginning of the pandemic. It was revealed that the mutation of the SARS2 virus tends to increase its ability to infect the pandemic.
However, Dr. Mugh Sewick, an expert in epidemiology. School of Medicine The University of St Andrews in Scotland said that the same precautionary measures against COVID-19 were also can be used to block the outbreak of B. 1.1.7
B.1.1.7 Does it aggravate the symptoms of COVID-19?
No evidence yet Indicates that people with COVID-19 of subspecies B. 1.1.7 The symptoms are more severe than the main strains that have spread, but scientists have not ruled it out. And I advise all parties to be as careful as possible.
The cause of the warning comes after reports of the SARS virus outbreak. 2 other subspecies in South Africa Subspecies are abundant along the coast. And the doctors who treated the patients found that it has a higher viral load (viral load) than the main strain.
Furthermore, virus concentrations in the upper respiratory tract were more dense than those of the main strains. Indicates that the patient may have more severe symptoms. Genes of the South African subspecies were also detected in B. 1.1.7.
Strange subspecies How did these happen?
Still unclear Scientists and experts are currently debating the origin of these two new subspecies of the SARS virus, one of which is a mutation during transmission through multiple vectors.
A typical viral infection usually causes an infected person to become a carrier for some time before the disease begins to manifest. At that point, the viral load in the body will begin to decrease. Because the body’s immune system counteracts it
If there is no serious illness Immunity can completely clear the virus in a few weeks. Or you have an immunodeficiency, it will make the virus live in the body for several months.
A case study of patients with this type of COVID-19 found that the virus mutates through prolonged intracranial enrichment. There is a possibility that natural selection allows the mutated virus to have the ability to evade the immune system.
Not only the evolution of these mutant viruses that were triggered by different antitumor drugs. This can make the pneumonia virus able to resist drugs and monoclonal antibodies.
Another source currently being observed is the outbreak through other anime reservoirs before reaching humans. After the SARS 2 virus was detected in many animals.
COVID-19 vaccine Will it continue to work or not?
Available While most experts believe that B.1.1.7 will not make the COVID-19 vaccine ineffective, scientists have not been able to rule out this possibility either.
The report states that The principle of operation of the vaccine. This stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies. Which is a substance that will bind to the protein rod on the virus membrane. As a result, the virus cannot use the protein rod to bind to the receptor rod on the cell surface to open the door to the cells of the body.
However, there is that possibility. Due to the mutation in which the genes that make up the viral rod can be altered, the rods appear altered. Making antibodies hard to come by What happened in this case in B. 1.1.7
But the immune system of the human body can also produce different forms of antibodies. To reduce the chance that these viruses will survive. This case is currently being studied by The Walter Reed Research Institute of the British Army
Dr. Monsef Slaoui, Chief Advisory Board, Operation Warp Speed, Vaccine Development Program for COVID-19 United States states that the Pfizer-Biotech and Moderna dos vaccines will not be affected by B1.1.7, but in the future it is inevitable that the virus mutates and makes it necessary. The development of a new vaccine came to light. All parties must closely monitor the situation.
However, Professor Christian Anderson, a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute. The state of California said it was too early to rule out the impact of B. 1.1.7 on the COVID-19 vaccine. Especially if B.1.1.7 is released to infect people with immunodeficiency.
This increases the risk that the virus will develop to bypass the immune system. And intended to make the vaccine ineffective OR make it ineffective in the end, but the scientific community is not neglecting AND is in the process of studying to find a way to tackle it beforehand.
“Until now we may not know. But soon, we have to be sure,” said Professor Anderson.
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