Mutated Novel Coronavirus

• 21 Dec 2020

Why in News

A mutated variant of the novel Coronavirus has been associated with recent infections in England.

• The virus has undergone several mutations since it first infected humans.

Key Points

• The New Mutant Coronavirus:
  
  • The mutant virus has been identified as N501Y and is likely to be a mutation in the spike protein.
    
    • It is the coronavirus spike protein that binds to a human protein to initiate the process of infection.
    • Changes here could possibly affect how the virus behaves in terms of its ability to infect, or cause severe disease, or escape the immune response made by vaccines.
  • There has been a single nucleotide change in one portion of the spike protein, so there would be no bearing on the disease biology or even diagnostics.
• Effect on Infection and Vaccination:
  
  • Several coronavirus vaccines are designed to create antibodies targeting the spike protein.
  • The vaccines target multiple regions on the spike, while a mutation refers to a change in a single point. If there is one mutation, it does not mean vaccines would not work.
  • All SARS-CoV-2 strains are genetically similar to one another, and scientists do not expect these mutations to have a significant impact on their ability to cause more severe disease than what has been observed so far.
  • Many mutations mean nothing at all, or at least are more successful for reasons not known.
    
    • For instance a different strain may be more transmissible, but cause less disease.
  • Researchers need to monitor the mutations as there is no evidence that the new strain in the UK is more transmissible or more severe/resistant to treatment or vaccination.
• Mutant Variant in India: Researchers have not seen this variant in India.
• Earlier Mutation:
  
  • D614G Mutation: This particular mutation aided the virus in attaching more efficiently with the ACE2 receptor in the human host, thereby making it more successful in entering a human body than its predecessors.
    
    • D614G showed increased infectivity but it also displayed greater ability at attaching itself to the cell walls inside an individual’s nose and throat, increasing the viral load.

Mutation

• A mutation means a change in the genetic sequence of the virus.
• In the case of SARS-CoV-2, which is an Ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, a mutation means a change in the sequence in which its molecules are arranged.
  
  • SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes Covid-19.
  • RNA is an important biological macromolecule that is present in all biological cells.
    
    • Principally involved in the synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.
  • DNA is an organic chemical that contains genetic information and instructions for protein synthesis. It is found in most cells of every organism.
• A mutation in an RNA virus often happens when the virus makes a mistake while it is making copies of itself.
  
  • Only if the mutation results in a significant change in the protein structure can the course of a disease be altered.

Source:IE