[사회][팩트와이] Is the appearance of the British mutant virus,’Corona 20′?

[앵커]

As the UK mutant virus spreads rapidly across the globe, domestic inflow cases are also continuing.

There is even a saying that’Corona 19′ should be called’Corona 20′.

I tried to see if it really is.

This is FactW, reporter Kang Jung-gyu.

[기자]

▲’Corona 20′ appeared?

The number of COVID-19 virus gene bases is about 30,000.

It is a coronavirus like SARS, which occurred in 2003, but it was classified as a new species because the base sequence was 21% different.

However, the corona 19’mutant virus’ first identified in the UK in September this year is only a 0.07% difference.

Experts say that it is a simple’mutation’ of less than 1%, and it is not a new virus that can be called’Corona 20′.

▲’Variation’ rather than’mutation’?

The British government used the term’mutation’ rather than’mutation’ in the temporary sign attached to the virus.

It means’mutation’ that has been investigated since December of this year.

It’s hard to make a strict distinction between mutations and strains biologically, but when looking at the degree of genetic difference, you should see them as mutations rather than variants.

However, there is an aspect that our quarantine authorities have caused confusion by mixing the terms’variant’ and’mutation’.

[권덕철 / 보건복지부 장관 : 영국발 변이에 대해서 많이 우려를 하고 계신 것으로 알고 있습니다.]

[윤태호 / 중앙사고수습본부 방역총괄반장 : 영국의 변종 바이러스와 같은 변종이 이루어졌는지 확인하는 과정이니까….]

▲ Doesn’t the vaccine work?

There are thousands of COVID-19 mutations discovered so far, and why is the UK mutant virus dangerous?

40% of the mutations occurred in the spike protein, a part of the viral bump.

Among them, it is important that the 501st protein corresponding to the receptor binding region has changed.

Because it binds more easily with cells in the body, and antibodies can be neutralized.

However, so far, it is the main opinion that it is a stool that can be caught with a vaccine.

[백순영 / 가톨릭의대 명예교수 : 바이러스가 변했기 때문에 항체 입장에서 보면 결합력이 떨어질 수 있는 거죠. 거꾸로… 한 개의 항체는 그렇지만, 백신은 여러 항체가 한꺼번에 붙기 때문에 큰 범위에서 보면 영향이 미미할 것이다….]

It is good to be alert about the influx of mutant viruses, but vague fear or disgust can hinder quarantine.

YTN Kang Jeong-gyu[[email protected]]is.

Intern reporter Lee Soo-hyun [[email protected]]

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]