Virus Mutations in the UK Spread Faster, Not Deadly?

Vaccines in the UK are still effective and mutations in the virus only trigger mild flu symptoms.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The corona virus that has mutated in the UK is spreading faster, but it is said to be no more dangerous. The corona vaccine has been proven effective and the mutated virus only triggers mild flu symptoms.

The existence of a corona virus that has mutated and spreads faster than the previous variation of Covid-19 in southern England, confirmed health minister Matt Hancock. The actual report said, there were at least 1,000 cases of infection with mutated viruses.

“Even so, it does not mean that this mutated virus variant is more dangerous,” said Hancock.

The British health minister only suspected that the increase in the latest cases of infection was indeed related to the new variant of the corona virus. Findings mutation of the corona virus nothing extraordinary.

In China, for example, which is the country of origin of the virus that triggered the Covid-19 pandemic, since half a year ago a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 corona virus has spread. Last summer in Spain, a new variant of the coronavirus also emerged, which then spread rapidly in Europe. The corona virus continues to carry out mutations, and until now most of the mutations have not or only had minimal negative effects.

Why do virus mutations occur?
Mutations in viruses are a natural mechanism for self-defense. If the human body forms antibodies to fight the virus, and thereby prevent the outbreak of disease symptoms. The virus must change its outermost layer, so that it is not recognized by immune cells. So to stay alive, the virus is constantly changing the outermost protein layer and developing new variants.

To reproduce, viruses need host cells. After inserting its genetic information into the attacked cell, the virus reproduces millions of times in the cell. But during each reproduction period, the virus intentionally makes a copy error, which changes the virus’s genetics. With that the virus mutates.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus that triggers Covid-19 like other corona viruses, is an RNA virus. The average mutation rate is one mutation per month.

The new variant registered in the UK shows a mutation in the corona virus “spine” protein. Mutations are carried out by deleting a gene, in this case two amino acids. That way the virus can spread faster.

Mutations of the corona virus by deleting genes were also observed to occur last summer in East Asia. The SARS-Cov-2 variation that had the mutation only triggered a mild infection, because it was suspected that the virus had become weaker.

Will the new vaccine still work?
Fortunately, Britain was the first European country to begin mass vaccinating. The country’s recent virus mutations have not rendered the new vaccine ineffective.

The virus made by BioNTech / Pfizer is also constructed in such a way that it can codify the information of the corona virus spines, and still triggers the appropriate stimulation of the immune system, even though the virus mutates.

But it has also been known for a long time, viruses can mutate very quickly, such as the influenza virus for example. As a result, every influenza season a new vaccine must be developed accordingly, in order to remain effective.

Likewise with the corona virus vaccine, it will have to be continuously adjusted. The basis for this will be the information collected during the crisis during the pandemic, so that in the future production capacity can be boosted and ensure an affordable supply of vaccines.
How does the body react?

Normally the human body has the ability to fight viruses by producing antibodies. With that the immune system can fight back and be immune to viruses. But if the virus has mutated, the immune system is less effective, because antibodies only attack old strains of virus. That is why, we still experience flu symptoms, even though we were vaccinated in the previous year.

Scientists say there is no reason to panic over the mutation of the coronavirus in the UK. Because a virus mutation does not necessarily mean the virus is getting deadlier, it can even be the other way around. Because of such mutations, it tames the virus even more so that it can spread faster and reproduce more.

source: https://www.dw.com/id/virus-corona-di-inggris-alami-mutation/a-55959793

sumber : DW

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