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The world has yet to get past the dangerous effects of the spread of the delta mutant, the Corona virus, to show indications of a new mutant that has worried scientists and doctors.
We are talking about the C.1.2 mutant, even though delta is the main vector of infection in the world, due to its rapid spread and manipulation of the properties of the human immune system.
Due to the emergence of Delta, the effectiveness of known vaccines has declined significantly, although it still succeeds, according to scientists, in reducing its risk.
But the new mutant C.1.2, which appeared in the same location as the delta mutant, began to worry scientists who said it “may carry variants that help it spread” like its ancestor Delta.
The C.1.2 mutant was discovered in South Africa by a research group affiliated with the Genome Surveillance Network, which includes the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the universities of Crisp, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Pretoria and Witwatersrand, and national health laboratories. Service.
The mutant was first registered last May and has since been monitored across South Africa.
“While the C.1.2 mutant shares a few mutations in common with the beta and delta mutants, the new mutant has a number of additional mutations,” said a study published by the research group.
The research group, which said more studies are still needed, believe the new mutation is able “to partially evade the immune response,” but despite this, “the vaccines will still offer high levels of protection. against hospitalization and death “.
So far, the new mutation has failed to meet the World Health Organization’s criteria for identifying “worrying” or “interesting” mutations.
The study also found that this mutation does not affect the accuracy of tests that detect infection with the Corona virus.
The Guardian Journal quoted Australian University of Sydney virologist Megan Steen as saying that interest in the new variant has come because of the mutations it contains.
Steen added: “The mutant contained a number of key mutations that we have seen in other variants which then fell under the category of ‘interest or concern’.”
She said it would take some time for scientists to perform lab tests to see if the virus was “more or less effective.”
Mutations can lead to a virus that is more virulent and able to spread or kill, or to a weaker virus.
In addition, some mutations lead to the death of mutated viruses.
Steen expected “the vaccines to hold up well” against the new C.1.2 mutant, but said many studies need to be done to confirm this, adding that “there is no need to panic” until ‘now.
“We warn of the implications of the mutation as we collect more data to understand the mutation,” said the National Institute of Infectious Diseases of South Africa.
The institute suspects that “new mutations may partially evade the immune response, but despite this, vaccines will still offer high levels of protection against hospitalization and death.”
“The emergence of the mutation tells us that this epidemic is not yet over and that this virus is still exploring ways to improve its infection in us,” Reuters quoted infectious disease specialist Richard Lessels, one of the authors of the study in which he announced the discovery of the new mutation.
So far, the delta mutator is still the fastest growing variant in the world.
But Lisels said C.1.2 might have more immune evasion properties than delta, depending on the type of mutation it contains.
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