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| New coronavirus model diagram. © News1 DB |
A mutation of the Corona 19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) and two other new mutant viruses found in the United Kingdom and South Africa in Ohio, the US economic media CNBC reported on the 13th (local time). A virus that has mutated around the world is spreading.
◇ Variation from the United States that does not originate from the UK and South African offices: According to reports, a research team at the Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center has discovered two new mutant viruses that are believed to have originated in the United States.
“One mutant virus, which was found in only one patient, contains mutations similar to those from the UK and South Africa,” the research team explained.
“The other species was found in 20 patients with Columbus, the capital of Ohio,” the research team added.
In particular, the’Columbus mutation’ was found to have three different gene mutations that have never been found in the previous mutant virus. This shows that it did not originate from the British or South African mutation, the team explained.
In addition, the newly discovered mutant virus, like the British and South African outbreaks, is strong in spreading power, but it does not appear to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine, the research team added.
Some point out that the new mutant virus could make the US situation worse. The U.S. started vaccination against Corona 19 last month and received more than 10 million vaccinations by the 13th, but the spread is showing no signs of slowing down.
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| Corona 19 mutant virus was found in Japan © Reuters = News 1 |
◇ RNA virus is highly infectious but has many mutations: To date, major COVID-19 mutant viruses have been discovered in the UK, South Africa, and Japan. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on the 13th that the corona 19 mutant virus, first discovered in the UK, has spread to 50 countries and regions since it was first reported to the WHO on the 14th of last month.
The South African mutant virus, which was first reported to the WHO on the 18th of last month, has been reported in 20 countries and regions.
The Japanese mutant virus was discovered in four people who departed from Brazil on the 2nd and entered Haneda Airport in Japan. The mutant virus shares some mutations with the mutant virus found in England and South Africa, but it is known that there are differences in genetic structure.
Viruses are simple organisms composed only of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) containing genetic information and protein membranes surrounding them. Corona 19 virus, like influenza (flu) virus, is a virus with RNA nucleic acids.
Viruses cannot metabolize themselves, so they penetrate and multiply in living host cells. In this process, replication errors occur and mutations occur. DNA virus has a correction function to prevent mutation, but it is known that the possibility of causing mutation is more than 100,000 times that of DNA virus because there is no RNA virus.
“The more the virus that causes Corona 19 spreads, the more likely it is to mutate.” “The new mutation does not cause more serious symptoms, but the surge in confirmed cases will put pressure on the health care system.”