By Nick Schonken
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the possibility of the UK, South Africa, and Brazil Covid-19 strains reaching America, something new has arrived, and it’s in California.
What Are Virus Mutations?
Viruses such as coronavirus and influenza viruses mutate constantly. Mutations in viruses are common.
According to Dr. Rhoads, an individual who is certified by the American Board of Pathology, “Most of the time, mutations are so small that they don’t significantly affect how the virus works, or they make the virus weaker.”
But, Rhoads also says that if a virus gains a mutation that gives it an advantage, compared to other forms of the virus, those traits are passed on and eventually become a part of the virus’s normal genome.
The California Strain
American’s have been hearing about strains of Covid-19, such as the strain in the UK know as B.1.1.7 and what such strains are capable of.
In an article for the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Charles Chiu, an infectious disease researcher and physician at the University of California San Fransisco, says, “The cluster of mutations that characterizes the homegrown strain should mark it as a ‘variant of concern’ on par with those from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil.”
According to Dr. Chiu, the strain known to scientists as B.1.427/B.1.429 or the California strain, “will probably account for 90% of the state’s coronavirus infections.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, “samples collected from multiple counties using a variety of methods suggest the variant is 19% to 24% more transmissible” than the average strain of Covid-19.
The California strain (B.1.427/B.1.429) is said to have a genome that includes 3 main mutations. According to the Los Angeles Times, these mutations affect the spike protein of the virus, which it uses to “sneak into human cells and convert them into factories for its own reproduction.”
One of the said mutations, called L452R, helps the virus attach more firmly to targeted cells and also seems to make the virus more damaging to the body.
Vaccines And The California Strain
Some may worry that vaccines will not be effective against new strains of Covid-19.
According to The Washington Post, “new research indicates that the California variant partially impedes the effectiveness of antibodies at neutralizing the virus in a dish. The reduction was modest, however.”
In vaccine clinical trials, early data suggest that even when a vaccine loses some effectivity due to variants, it still provides protection, particularly against a severe outcome.
Authors Note:
Please do continue to follow the Covid-19 rules from your local government. Stay six feet apart, properly wear a mask, do not go to mass gatherings, stay inside, and stop the spread. Most importantly, stay informed. Thank you.
Featured Image by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash
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