The delta variant commits suicide. This is shown by the findings of a team of scientists from the National Institute of Genetics and the University of Niigata. They claim that the Delta strain of the coronavirus circulating in Japan has accumulated too many mutations in one of its non-structural proteins, making it unable to “repair” itself over time and thus leading to “self-destruction”. , BGNES reported.
“The Delta variant of the coronavirus in Japan is transmitted at a high rate and displaces other variants. But with the accumulation of mutations in it, we believe that it has become defective and unable to produce its own copies. Given the number of new cases does not increase, we believe that at some point through these mutations it has gone directly to natural self-destruction, “Professor Itzuro Inoue, head of the team of scientists, told The Japan Times.
According to the study, most of the mutations in the Delta strain in Japan occurred in the A394V region of the non-structural protein nsp14, which is responsible for the virus’s ability to “correct” existing errors and deficiencies.
“If the virus was ‘alive and well’, there would definitely be an increase in new cases, as wearing masks and vaccinations cannot prevent infection in some cases even after full vaccination,” the scientist added.
Another Japanese scientist, Takeshi Urano, a professor at the University of Shimane School of Medicine, was asked by the publication to comment on the Inoue team’s discovery, saying the nsp14 protein has “an extremely important function in protecting the virus’s nucleic acids from destruction.”
“Studies show that a virus with damaged nsp14 protein significantly loses its ability to reproduce, so this may be one of the factors in the dramatic decline in new infections,” the expert said, adding that “a reagent that can” tame ” this protein may be a potential drug. “
According to Professor Inoue, a similar drastic decline in new infections can be seen in other countries, but no other country in the world currently has as many mutations in the A394V region of the nsp14 protein as in Japan.
At the same time, the expert warned that the “self-eradication” of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in Japan could lead to the entry of other active strains in the country.
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