Recently, news has spread from England that a new version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has emerged or, in scientific terms, has mutated. There has been a rapid increase in cases of COVID-19 in the UK that binds to this new form of the virus.
What is a Coronavirus Mutation?
All the genetic material of coronaviruses is composed of a protein called RNA (ribonucleic acid). found in the structure. RNA bears some similarities with DNA. However, these two are not the same. When viruses infect you, they attach to your cells, enter the cell, and replicate copies of their RNA and allow it to spread. If there is a copying error, the RNA undergoes changes. The scientific world calls these changes 'mutations'.
These changes occur randomly and by chance. It's a common occurrence that happens to viruses as they multiply and spread among humans. For example, the reason we get the flu vaccine every year is because flu viruses change from year to year. This year's flu virus is probably not of the same nature as the virus that circulated last year. This strain becomes more common if a virus has a random variation that makes it easier to infect humans and spreads. There is rapid transmission.
As a result, all viruses, including coronaviruses, can change over time. Changes occur when the virus mutates and infects. The ability of the virus to attach to, enter and replicate in a cell may be affected. The virus appears to be more contagious after mutation, but there is no evidence of increased severity of disease. reported that this virus, which causes COVID-19 in the southeast of England, has changed and a new strain has been diagnosed. He added that the newly identified SARS-CoV-2 strain (strain) spread faster than the other existing original strain of the virus.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is not the same strain that first appeared in China. a new The study showed that the virus has undergone some modification to make it more contagious to humans. they have been found to be even more contagious. A change was observed in the 'spike' proteins of the new species, the regions of the outer shell that attach to and infect cells. The change has made him a much more efficient hunter. It moves rapidly from cell to cell in the body and reproduces itself at a furious rate.
Baric's experiments help explain why the new strain is rapidly spreading. He noted that the virus most likely passed from bats, discovered a brand new human host, and that none of us had developed immune defenses against it. He also reported that viruses have genetic advantages that enable them to copy themselves faster and are competitive entities that can survive.
What Are the Vaccines Available to Protect Against Coronavirus?
The Food and Drug Administration has granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for persons 16 years of age and older in the United States. Within a week, this agency also awarded an EUA to a vaccine developed by Moderna.
The British government approved the Pfizer vaccine on 8 December 2020 and vaccination has begun. Vaccines developed in China and Russia are currently also available in other countries. These vaccines have been developed at an unprecedented pace thanks to modern medical technologies, with human testing started in March 2020. The FDA states that these vaccines are safe to have and there is no room for doubt. However, pregnant women and people with a history of allergies should consult their doctor.
Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, several weeks apart. Healthcare professionals and elderly people have priority to receive these doses.
D Clinical trials for other vaccines are still ongoing.
What is the Impact of the Coronavirus Mutation Update on Existing Vaccines?
The scientific community is also wondering how future treatments and current vaccines will work against this new virus, and Research has begun on this topic. They tested antibodies from the blood of people who have recovered from COVID-19 infections, in both new and old strains, and found no significant difference in how well these antibodies work to neutralize the virus.
In this case, when the coronavirus mutates and infects a person who has survived the disease due to the original strain, it means that this person also has protection against the mutated strain.
Soumya Swaminathan, the authorized scientist of the World Health Organization. , said that it is unlikely that the latest mutation of the coronavirus will interfere with the work of existing vaccines. Vaccines based on the original Chinese coronavirus also protect against this new strain and induce a good immune response. This is good news for the whole world.
Current treatments and prevention efforts do not seem to have been greatly affected by this change in the virus. However, mutation points to how quickly new species emerge, raising questions about whether one of them will cause a problem in the future.
Another development that the scientific world is watching closely is that in mink farms in Denmark and the Netherlands it can infect humans.
It is said that at least one of these species may have developed enough changes in its 'spike' proteins to help it recover from the effects of the vaccine. However, the accuracy of the researches has not been proven yet.
There is no reason to worry before the researches are verified. But early studies show that the virus appears to have changed to help it infect mink more effectively, while also retaining its ability to infect humans. The development of a virus to allow it to circulate in an animal species means that it becomes more difficult to eradicate it. Therefore, it is necessary to control the spread on farms. To cure it, it may be necessary to take further steps, such as vaccinating animals or, in the worst case, killing mink.
Scientists around the world are conducting laboratory studies to confirm that vaccines will still be effective.
In the Covid-19 pandemic. In the light of the current vaccines and the measures taken, the end is approaching. However, this does not mean that we can abandon this measure. Take care of social distance, hygiene and don't forget to wear a mask.
In addition, if you show symptoms such as dry cough, fever, weakness, muscle and joint pain, loss of taste and smell, apply to the nearest health institution and then isolate yourself.
For detailed information, knowing about Coronavirus You can read our article or ask the expert team of Grup Florence Nightingale Hospitals about the issues you want to consult, and you can ask for suggestions regarding your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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