[국제]South African’mutant virus’ also mutated in G group…”Infection and spread seem to be faster”

[앵커]

The corona 19 virus from South Africa, which is newly reported in the UK, is also believed to be a mutant virus of the’G group’ family, which is the most prevalent in Korea and around the world.

It appears to be easier to infiltrate and infect the body than the British GR variant.

This is reporter Kim Jeong-hoe.

[기자]

According to data from GISAID, the International Virus Genetic Information Sharing Organization, the current Corona 19 relapse in South Africa is led by mutant viruses.

The G group lineage, especially the GH type mutation, leads the epidemic.

For this reason, the new corona 19 virus from South Africa confirmed in the UK is dominated by Group G.

G group is currently the most prevalent worldwide among corona 19 virus types, of which GH and GR types are also prevalent in Korea.

In South African mutant viruses, 9 of the existing viral protrusions have disappeared and 3 have changed shape.

In all three, the sites that bind to cell receptors have changed.

There was also a change in location, which was closer to the cell receptor compared to the British GR-type mutation.

[백순영 / 가톨릭의대 명예 교수 : 그 부분들이 많이 바뀐 것은 (영국 변이 바이러스보다) 우리 몸에 들어올 때 (세포와) 더 잘 붙을 수 있고 항체가 거기 가서 붙기 어려운 부분이 있어서.]

In the South African mutant virus, a’N501Y’ dendritic mutation was also found in the British mutant virus.

UK mutant viruses have been reported in laboratory studies to be up to 70% stronger than conventional viruses.

Z-Side found that the South African mutant virus increased cell receptor binding.

The Guardian also quoted local health experts in South Africa, predicting that human-to-human transmission would be easier than the British mutant virus.

However, these contents have not yet been confirmed in the investigation stage.

[피터 호비 / 옥스퍼드대 교수 : 우리가 확신하는 건 다른 변이 바이러스보다 더 빨리 확산한다는 겁니다. 현재까지는 근본적인 메커니즘이 명확하지 않습니다.]

Recently, the appearance of mutant viruses in the G group has been reported one after another, but experts point out that it is not due to the G-type characteristic and that mutation occurs according to environmental conditions while the G group is prevalent around the world.

This is YTN Kim Jeong-hoe.

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

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