New Coronavirus strains: where they were discovered and how dangerous they

At the end of December, several countries immediately announced that they revealed new virus strains in patients with Covid. Trying to avoid the spread of the mutated pathogen, many European Union countries, Türkiye and Russia have already suspended air traffic with the UK. Where else they discovered new pathogen mutations and what is known about them is in the material “MBH Media”.

Viral geography

In mid-December, the UK discovered a new strain of coronavirus, because of which the number of infections has grown sharply in the country. The speed of the new type of virus, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was 70% higher than that of previously identified. Nevertheless, there is no data that the disease caused by the new type of virus is harder.

On December 19, the authorities of the South African Republic also announced the discovery of a new mutation of coronavirus. According to the Minister of Health of South Africa Zveli Mikhze, the new Covid-19 variety has been detected in patients with Covid for the past two months, and he, like the British fellow, spreads faster than his predecessor.

Following the UK and South Africa, the authorities of Denmark and Brazil told about the identification of new strains of Covid. Moreover, the South American country noted that their mutation is more contagious than the previously revealed variety. Conflicting data came from the Scandinavian island: for example, the frequency of hospitalizations caused by a new mutation of coronavirus was 10% lower in Denmark than the previously identified type SARS-COV-2. The Danish Ministry of Health did not report anything about the speed of transmission of a new variety of pathogen.

Finally, on December 25, the Nigeria authorities announced that they found a new strain of coronavirus in patients with Covid. However, according to local healthcare officials, there are too few infected conclusions about the rate of distribution or severity of the disease.

How dangerous the mutated viruses

The most concern among virologists at the moment causes a strain that was found in South Africa - it was called 501.v2. According to scientists, he is able to read the individual immune response of a person and look for weaknesses in him, the general director of the Council for Medical Research, South Africa Glend Gray, told local media. She believes that because of this, a whole group of new aggressive coronavirus strains may appear. Her words are confirmed by Professor Peter Horbi, who heads the advisory group of the UK government for new and arising threats of respiratory viruses. He told Daily Mail that the South African variety of pathogen can affect the ability of antibodies to neutralize Covid. And this in the future can greatly reduce the effect of vaccination, which many countries of the world have now begun.

The British strain, called b.1.1.7, also has high contagence (that is, more contradictory). This, scientists explain, occurs due to the genetic change in the protein structure of the “spike” of the virus, with the help of which the pathogen is attached to the cell - it more actively interacts with the proteins of the cell membrane and attacks it easier. However, mortality from the British mutation of Covid (4 cases per thousand sick) is currently not higher than the usual values ​​of coronavirus.

The mutated coronavirus found in Denmark was named N439K. According to the State Institute for Combating infectious diseases, this mutation is less sensitive to vaccine. In Denmark, they continue to test patients with coronavirus to find out what percentage of the sick became infected with a new strain. According to preliminary data, this is about 0.4% of patients, but testing continues (so far only 13.5% of all confirmed cases of infection with coronavirus have been investigated), and the share of the infected Danish mutation of Covid may change.

Where do new strains come from

The mutation of the virus and the emergence of new strains, oddly enough, accelerates the treatment with drugs that suppress the virus, as well as the use of plasma with antibodies, said Ancha Baranova, professor of the University of System Biology of the University of George Mason. “In the body of a person who has been sick and difficult for a long time, there is often more than one type of SARS-COV-2 virus. Plasma will remove those viruses that are associated with antibodies, and leave the rest. There will be a directed evolution of the virus, ”RIA Novosti quotes Baranova.

Another reason for the mutation, the biologist calls the use of substances that violate the work of coronavirus polymerase (polymerase - an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of DNA and RNA molecules in pathogen). These include new medicines for Covid - for example, “Apolivir”, “Coronavir” and “Remedevir”. They block the replication of the virus, that is, its ability to reproduce. “Such drugs contribute to“ obtaining “spoiled”, mutating variants of the virus. For the most part, they are non -viable hilacs, but some may turn out to be promising material for viral evolution, ”Baranova explains. In addition, the expert indicates, the virus can mutate in the body of the person taking immunosupressors - that is, drugs that suppress immunity; These are used for some types of oncological diseases, as well as in transplantology.

Finally, a new strain can arise in the human body with weak immunity. It is this version that is considered the main one in Britain. However, in general, neither British scientists nor doctors of other countries have yet made the final conclusions about how the new mutations of the pathogenic virus were born.