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People with low immunity could be breeding grounds for new mutated strains of coronavirus, researchers say | & nbspPhoto credit: & nbspiStock Images
Highlights
- New mutations in the novel coronavirus have appeared in some parts of the world
- New mutations include those found in the UK, South Africa and Brazil
- Researchers have now found that it is actually people with weakened immune systems who become the breeding ground for these mutated strains.
New Delhi: Just when we thought the COVID-19 pandemic may finally be nearing its end, with the approval of vaccine candidates in various parts of the world, the new mutated strains of the virus found in the UK, South Africa. South and Brazil have worried health experts and the general public. While some experts have expressed positive feelings about the effectiveness of current vaccines against these strains, some have said that the speed at which the new coronavirus is mutating, we may need a new set of vaccines soon.
According to the latest reports, the new variants of the coronavirus that are wreaking havoc around the world may actually start in people who have weakened immune systems and spend weeks or months suffering from the viral infection, scientists said. .
COVID strains living in immunocompromised patients change frequently
American doctors found that a strain of COVID living in an immunocompromised patient for 150 days had changed so much that they could find 50 differences in its genetic code. These changes happened at random, as the virus reproduced itself to expand its spread. These changes occur in its form, which can affect how the virus works. About 50% of the changes in the virus happened to the spike protein, which it uses to bind to human cells. The peaks contribute only 2% of the genetic code of the virus.
According to the report, the patient, who was a 45-year-old man from Boston, was also undergoing a cocktail of antibodies and antiviral therapy. The researchers believe that these may have exerted “evolutionary pressure” on the virus to evolve and suppress the immune response.
The study also provides information on the origin of the new strains of COVID. All three new strains have changes in their spike protein that make them more transmissible, fatal or immune-resistant, according to the study.
How the coronavirus mutates as it spreads between people
According to research, the coronavirus is constantly mutating as it spreads between people and multiplies inside hosts. However, most of the changes do not change the behavior or shape of the virus. This is because most people who catch the virus recover within 14 days of infection. They also remain infectious for much less time. This does not give enough time for the virus to evolve and pass on to other people. However, for people with low immunity and those who suffer from infections for longer periods of time, say months, give the virus the window of a genetic change in shape and its spread throughout the population, the professor says. Jones, virologist at the University. reading.
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