Seven COVID strains with the same mutation detected in the USA, raising concerns among scientists

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03:06 GMT 2/15/2021Get a short URL

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During the past few months, several new strains of COVID have emerged, mainly from the UK and South Africa, making coronavirus infection more contagious and raising new concerns about vaccine effectiveness and restrictions in many countries.

Scientists have discovered a number of new strains of coronavirus that appear to be subject to a similar mutation in the United States, according to a study published on Sunday.

The research team indicated seven strains that gained a mutation at the same location in their genes, raising concerns about whether the mutation could affect the level of contagiousness of the coronavirus.

“Independent genomic surveillance programs based in New Mexico and Louisiana simultaneously detected the rapid increase in numerous infections of the 20G clade (line B.1.2) carrying a Q677P substitution in S [spike protein]”said the study summary.

There is no clear evidence that the mutation could affect the way COVID-19 spreads among people, but Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and co-author of the new study, suggests, quoted by The New York Times, that “there is clearly something going on with this mutation”.

“I think there is a clear signature for an evolutionary benefit,” said Kamil.

Suggestions were also made that the mutation could affect the way the virus enters human cells, although the researchers outlined that additional experimental data is needed.

In recent months, several new strains of coronavirus have been detected worldwide, mainly in the United Kingdom and South Africa, known to be more contagious.

While it is unclear what impact the new variants will have on the pandemic, Russian consumer rights watcher Rospotrebnadzor announced on Sunday that a test system for the UK variant has been registered in the country.

“The new technology can be used to develop reagents to detect any other mutation in SARS-CoV-2, as well as other infectious pathogens where rapid mass testing is needed (pandemic infections),” said Rospotrebnadzor.