A Preliminary study criticism of COVID-19, which was recently published in the Los Angeles Times. Because in this the authors come to the conclusion that the new Corona virus quickly mutated and now more contagious than that Original form from chinese Wuhan is. However, numerous scientists are skeptical about this.
Researcher of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico have examined the development of SARS-CoV-2 in a preliminary study that was published on April 30th. For this they have different genetic sequences of the virus analyzed originating from COVID-19 patients. The focus was on the so-called spike protein, which allows cells to be infected.
Mutation D614
The scientists are said to have recognized that the original strain of virus out Wuhan in some cases one mutation in the spike protein – called D614. Also many of the early infected in Europe, the United States, but also other countries should mutation have shown.
At the beginning of February, too mutation G614 occurred. This would quickly displace D614, often within a few weeks. This pattern can be seen in almost every region worldwide. According to the researchers, the rapid spread of the G614 form is an indicator that the now rampant SARS-COV-2 strains are more contagious than that Original form.
“No impact”
According to the Harvard epidemiologist Bill Hanage however, there is no clear link between the G614 mutation and the spread potential of the virus. The mutation could only be a consequence of the fact that in Europe action was taken relatively late. The virus should have had time to develop and from that Original form out China to distinguish. As a result, G614 may have spread to other regions.
Even the virologist Angela Rasmussen of the Columbia University is skeptical. She says: “They didn’t do a single experiment – that’s just a guess,” she told Gizmodo. According to her, there is no influence on the contagion potential. “They have done nothing to show that this mutation is functionally significant “.
–
