Seven COVID lines with the same mutation spotted in the US, causing concern among scientists

03:06 GMT 15.02.2021Get a short URL

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In recent months, several new COVID strains have emerged, particularly from the United Kingdom and South Africa, which have made the coronavirus infection more contagious and raised new concerns about vaccine efficacy and limitations in many countries.

According to a study published Sunday, scientists have discovered a number of new coronavirus lines that are subject to a similar mutation in the United States.

The research team identified seven lineages that all had a mutation in the same place in their genes, raising concerns about whether the mutation could affect the level of coronavirus infectivity.

“Independent genomic surveillance programs based in New Mexico and Louisiana simultaneously detected the rapid emergence of numerous 20G infections (lineage B.1.2) with a Q677P replacement in S [spike protein]”, the study summary said.

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

“I think there is a clear signature of an evolutionary advantage,” said Dr. Kamil said.

There have also been suggestions that the mutation may affect the way the virus enters human cells, although researchers have stated that additional experimental data are needed.

In recent months, several new strains of coronavirus have been detected around the world, particularly from the United Kingdom and South Africa, which are known to be more contagious.

Although it is ultimately not clear what impact the new variants will have on the pandemic, Russian watchdog Rospotrebnadzor announced on Sunday that a very first testing system for the British variant has been registered in the country.

“The new technology can be used to develop reagents for the detection of any other SARS-CoV-2 mutations, as well as other infectious pathogens where rapid mass testing is required (pandemic infections),” Rospotrebnadzor said.