[사진출처 = 연합뉴스]A mutant virus that is stronger than the delta mutation, which is currently leading the pandemic, has more powerful transmission than the existing novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
The Guardian reported on the 24th (local time) that the British scientific community had warned of the emergence of a highly contagious and vaccine-resistant ‘leak mutation’.
According to the British scientific community, the silkworm mutation carries 32 mutations inside the spike protein. This is twice as many as the delta variant with 16 mutations.
Normally, coronaviruses penetrate by binding their spike protein to the ACE2 receptor on the surface of human cells. If the shape of the spike protein is changed due to virus mutation, antibodies may not be able to stop the virus from entering the cell, making infection easier.
Professor Francois Vallus, a geneticist at University College London, said: “It appears that the mutation came from a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who was infected with the corona virus.”
Professor Valus said he was concerned that “nuclear mutations will evade antibodies better than deltas.”
Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, said: However, he added, “The spread is not yet rapid, so it is not something to be overly concerned about.”
According to the Daily Mail, the ‘nucleus mutation’, which first occurred in Botswana, Africa in November, infected a total of three people in this region alone. Since then, six additional cases have been found in Gauteng Province, South Africa and one more in Hong Kong.
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