How often does a virus mutate?
It is extremely difficult to predict mutations of the virus, since the first infections scientists
What is already known about COVID-19 mutations?
Scientists have several points to answer this question.vision. For example, Chinese biologists said in early March that the virus could be divided into two subtypes - S and L. One of them will differ in acute symptoms during infection and can also spread faster. Not everyone supported this idea.
An alternative point of view is: changes in the genome of the virus could be caused by various random processes, rather than real differences in the infectiousness of these subtypes of SARS-CoV-2. According to scientists from New York University, among the total mass of COVID-19 strains, about 70% have a common mutation in the S gene. This gene controls the production of proteins of that part of the SARS-CoV-2 membrane that is directly related to its penetration into the body.
Which one is the most dangerous?
In mid-June, a new mutation of the virus became known: it infects humans 2.5 to 8 times faster and is characteristic of more than half of the strains studied. This is the D614G mutation.
It not only helps the virus penetrateorganism, but also accelerates its spread between a variety of different types of human cells. The lungs, liver and intestines can be most seriously affected. There is another assumption why the new type of virus is so contagious - the virus cells are more resistant to immunity.
What is known about the new mutation?
I believe this data tells us that there is a specific mutation that speeds up the replication of the virus and increases its concentration in the body.
Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci
At the moment, scientists do not have a common point of viewon the issue of the new mutation: Fauci is confident that the new mutation, affecting a certain amino acid, accelerates the reproduction of the virus and increases its concentration in the body.
He added that scientists have no evidence that the virus becomes more dangerous as a result of mutations.
Note that in June, scientists from Novosibirskcreated a mathematical model that confirmed that mutations in the virus increase its infectivity. In particular, its ability to penetrate into healthy cells increases, which leads to an increase in infectivity by 2.5–8 times.
The development of mathematical models continues.
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