Genome databases such as A nextstrain.org More than a thousand SARS CoV-2 mutant are currently known.
To date, the variants of concern have been named according to their geographical appearance from the countries in which they were first identified. However, in order to avoid stigmatizing individual countries, the World Health Organization introduced new names based on the letters of the Greek alphabet. naturalized. The new name for the British, South African, Brazilian and Indian mutations is now alphaAnd the betaAnd the gamma And the Delta. Simplified nomenclature will not replace more complex scientific names.
India has previously called on social media to: delete Hundreds of thousands of mutate tag posts because it’s “completely wrong”. The government says the so-called “Indian convert” is causing a bad reputation for the country and destroying power.
The new mutant identified in Vietnam appears to be a cross between alpha (b 1.1.7) and delta (b 1.617). Health Minister Nguyen Than Long said the new strain is spreading rapidly in the air, which may explain the rapid rise in new infections in May.
The epidemic swam Vietnam relatively well. From its inception to early May 2021, only 3,500 infections and 47 deaths were recorded in the country of 98 million people. The government has limited the spread of Covid-19 with short but strict restrictions.
However, since the beginning of May, more than 3,000 new cases have been recorded in Vietnam, almost the same as the previous number of more than a year. The two hubs are the two counties where hundreds of thousands of people work in the production departments of multis.
Identifying mutants is the key
The infection rate in Vietnam may seem low. However, new releases appearing in Asia are always worrying.
In the medium term, the epidemic may re-emerge in the northern hemisphere despite an intensive vaccination programme. In a globalized world, mutants spread rapidly.
If the new strains adapt to the human host, then antibodies, even those acquired through infection, will not provide protection at some point.
Antigen or PCR tests will no longer detect mutations but will produce a false negative result. At the same time, available vaccines will be phased out – Writes Deutsche Welle.
It is essential to use genetic sequencing to identify variants as quickly as possible. Only on this basis can we ensure that sufficient quantities of the right types of vaccines are available worldwide, not just in rich countries.
Thus, in addition to the four seemingly more dangerous variants, there are also hybrid breeds, such as the Vietnamese. Some mutants have been around for some time. However, identification of mutations is random, as many countries simply do not have the ability to sequence.
An effective fight against the virus requires decoding its genetic code, and this is possible only through sequencing.
By examining the DNA fragments, researchers can detect small changes in the genetic makeup of the virus and thus determine the origin and spread pattern of variants. This is the only way to develop the right vaccines.
Not all vaccines are effective against different mutations
There are many indications that mutations are primarily responsible for the epidemics currently occurring in different parts of Asia. In Sri Lanka and Cambodia, the Alpha tribe (B 1.1.7) predominates. To our knowledge, mRNA vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna are effective against the variant. In addition, mRNA vaccines can be adapted relatively quickly. AstraZeneca vaccine also provides good protection against alpha.
In India and the northwest, in Nepal, deltas are stretched (B.1.617). In Nepal, the number of recorded Covid-19 cases has risen sharply since mid-April.
In terms of population, Nepal is worse than India.
Sequencing by the National Institute of Virology of India identified eight mutations in the delta spike protein (B.1.617). Two of these are a direct result of the high rate of transmission, while a third, like gamma, is capable of immune escape when pathogens bypass the human immune system.
According to Imperial College London, deltas are 20 to 80 percent more contagious than the alpha version. In addition, this variant may be able to bypass infection or immunity caused by the vaccine.
According to a British study, the current vaccines from Pfizer and AstraZeneca are not effective enough against this mutation.
AstraZeneca, which has vaccinated only 1 million people, may not provide adequate protection against the alpha-delta hybrid identified in Vietnam. In the second half of the year, Vietnam expects the arrival of the mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, although how to deal with the variant discovered in Vietnam has not been studied.
In Bangladesh, by contrast, beta (B 1.351) caused a rapid increase in the number of cases. AstraZeneca has been shown to provide “minimal” protection against this strain. This is a problem because in Bangladesh they are mainly vaccinated with Covishield, the Indian version of AstraZeneca.
By the way, the Greek alphabet has 24 letters, but there is no idea yet how to continue sending signals to mutants if the framework is exhausted – Notes meg to France24.
The EpsilonAnd the zetaAnd the etatAnd the theta And the corn It is already set for specific and recently selected releases.
(Cover image: A micrograph of the coronavirus Photo: BSIP/UIG/Getty Images)
