Scientists keep an eye on Brazilian COVID mutants Evidence of immunity. – Recurrent infection.

Scientists keep an eye on Brazilian COVID mutants Evidence of immunity. – Recurrent infection.

Scientists keep an eye on Brazilian COVID mutants – January 28 NPRIt is reported that scientists around the world are closely monitoring the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that is caused by a mutation in Brazil and beginning to spread closely to the United States. After finding the possibility that The new virus may have an increased ability to evade human immunity. Leading to a second infection

The situation comes at a time when Pfizer and Moderna, the developers of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, have admitted that they are stepping up to improve a second vaccine (booster) with protective capabilities. Pathogen COVID-19 A new mutant from South Africa. Recent studies have shown that the vaccine is less effective against a virus of South Africa.

One of the new species that worries scientists the most is now the P. 1 found in Manaus, with the largest population of about 2 million in Armazonas. Of brazil In December A new, more severe outbreak began in mid-January. The past

The latest US authorities have also detected a person infected with COVID-19. It was also the first in the country in Minnesota. From random testing for infection through nasal swab samples The infection has a history of traveling from Brazil.

Jeremy Luban, a virologist at the University of Massachusetts, said, “If I were to ask me what was the most worrying right now, it would have been the worst. I think it must be a sudden new outbreak in the Brazilian city of Manaus. “

The cases arose extremely skeptical of the scientists. Since the first outbreak in Manaus was highly infected. Accounted for 75 percent of the city’s population since spring last year It is, in principle, one of the first places in the world where “group immunity” occurs.

The concern for the SARS 2 p.1 virus comes as scientists are unable to explain how quickly and widely the new virus spreads. If it is assumed that the immunity has already occurred Another was the detection of a relatively dangerous mutation pattern in this virus.

Reports indicate that two types of SARS viruses mutated in England. Until making it more capable of the epidemic and its severity, it took three months for an outbreak to spread across the country. While type P. In Brazil, it spreads over Manaus in just one month.

More importantly, the people of Manaus were infected with COVID-19. Almost the whole city has arrived. Even so, research has shown that it is likely that it has become a group immunization since April. Yet, a new wave of rapid and violent outbreaks emerged just 10 months later.

Cases that arise lead to a series of questions such as Is it possible that p. 1 Has the ability to evade human immunity more than the previous species of Manaus had been attached. As a result, a new type of infection or P. 1 has the ability to outbreaks more than the previous type. Or maybe both true

Bill Harnage, Epidemiologist at Harvard University Massachusetts states that although scientists do not yet know exactly why the new virus can be recurrent in immunocompromised populations, it said. But the descriptions that are left to search are completely empty.

Mrs. Penny Moore, virologist at the National Institute of Epidemiology. And the University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa explains that the dangerous assumptions from re-infection cases are several.

For example, the mutated genes in p.1 That is the same type from South Africa. This causes the virus protein rods outside the membranes, where antibodies are bound to target the immune response. Making the antibodies harder to grasp And invisible immunity Comparable to covering an invisible veil

This hypothesis has been proven in a laboratory in South Africa. By researchers taking the blood of a patient with COVID-19 44 South Africans mixed in antibody-rich serum To assess the effectiveness of the antibodies, the results were found to be half as effective, but researchers have not tested that p.1 Will come out the same way or not But studies of that mutation pattern suggest that it might be likely.

Virologist Ravi Kupta said all these findings indicate a competition between vaccines and the virus. Comparable to a cat chasing mice Because the virus is trying to mutate in order to better evade immunity While humans have to keep up with the new virus vaccines.

“This kind of phenomenon we have already had, the influenza virus from influenza virus. We humans can find a way to create a vaccine to intercept this virus in advance every year. I think that with COVID-19 Would not be different “

“These processes take time. There wouldn’t be a single-roll solution. Like doing this, then it’s okay. This corona virus will disturb our lives for a long time, ”Gupta said.

–