On June 11, the British public health department reported the mutated virus for the first time, but the earliest sequencing of several viruses can be traced back to April 26. It can be seen that the variant has begun to spread in spring. Experts from all over the world are investigating the characteristics of the new mutant virus, but it is too early to define its impact on the epidemic.
All viruses will constantly mutate, some of which make the virus more infectious and fecundity, while other changes may not affect or reduce the toxicity of the virus. Up to now, 160 virus mutants have been sequenced, including delta mutants. Of all the mutations, ay. 1 is the most noteworthy, so it is called plus.
Francois balloux, director of UCL Institute of genetics, said that a special mutation k417n appeared in the spike protein of delta plus virus, which is related to the virus's ability to adsorb cells. K417n mutation was also found in previous virus spectrum, including a virus strain in Qatar in March 2020 and beta variant reported in South Africa. It has the potential to help the virus escape, but its impact on infectivity is unclear.
The spread of the delta variant virus is 40% to 60% higher than that of the original COVID-19. Who is concerned that it has become the most easily transmitted virus variant. The novel coronavirus pneumonia Maria Van Kerkhove, who is the threat to the plus, is now studying the significance of the mutation of plus virus in the transmission, severity and impact on medical measures.
According to the novel coronavirus pneumonia sequencing agency of India government, the plus mutation showed increased infection, enhanced receptor binding to lung cells and reduced potential antibody response. The impact of the mutation on the efficacy of the vaccine is unknown to the scientific community, but experts warn that the mechanism of the vaccine is to train the immune system to recognize the spike protein or part of its structure, and the mutation may produce significant escape characteristics of the vaccine.
However, this is only a guess, there is not enough evidence to confirm any conclusion, and other experts are also cautious. Indian government experts believe that the plus mutation may change the immune escape, disease severity and infectivity of the virus. We are continuously monitoring and plan to draw a conclusion whether the vaccine is effective against the plus mutation virus within 7-10 days.
Balloux said: 'we need to be calm despite the new variation. Among the current mainstream variants, except beta variant, other k417n carrying mutant viruses are not very dangerous. Although mutations have occurred in several countries, the frequency is still very low and has not spread in any countries.
So far, 11 countries have reported the plus virus, 83 cases in the United States, 41 cases in the United Kingdom and 48 cases in India. The remaining cases were in Canada, India, Japan, Nepal, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey. But these are just some sequenced samples. More data are needed to determine the actual speed of transmission. There is no evidence that the virus has been infected with the first wave of infection, vaccinators or the second wave of infection in India. However, the so-called "once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of the well", Indian experts do not want a new peak of the epidemic because they have not successfully predicted the second wave of the epidemic, so they issued a warning in advance to delta and the third wave of delta plus mutant virus.
