Dr. Anan reveals the cause of the BA.2 virus that spreads faster than other species
on March 29 Dr. Anan Chongkaewwatana, Director of Animal Health and Management Innovation Research Group National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology or Biotech and Virologist Has posted on Facebook Anan Jongkaewwattana about the COVID-19 virus, stating that
One question virologists are monitoring changes in the properties of the COVID-19 virus. Still can’t find a clear answer. What causes a virus like BA.2 to spread more quickly than other strains? Especially the omicron that dominated the area first, such as BA.1 or BA.1.1, and, importantly, the diffusion properties were very different. It can be noted from the current situation that positive ATK testing can be found on a daily basis with people around you.
From the original hypothesis that had been established, The virus alters the area of the spike, allowing it to bind to the receptor protein more tightly, or to better escape the immune system. but today’s information I have yet to see that such differences between BA.1 and BA.2 be explained. In other words, both virus strains bind to receptor proteins equally well and escape immunity equally well. So what makes BA.2 run faster than BA.1 like this?
the possibility is Mutations outside the spike protein. Today it has become clear that the discovery of a subspecies of BA.2 that has begun increasing its widespread distribution in Scotland has been referred to as “BA.2.8”, with data comparing its distribution to the original BA.2. .2.8 appears to be about 34% faster than normal BA.2 and 110% faster than BA.1.1.
BA.2.8 has a spike similar to BA.2, the difference being that it has two mutations on a tiny protein called ORF3a at 9 (T9K) and 31(A31T). This change in nature is worrying. The reason for this is that we don’t know exactly what ORF3a does. It will be very difficult to study proteins that we do not know their precise functions. Because the virus can’t be guessed.
If BA.2.8 spreads as quickly as Scotland does, wherever the virus is spreading This virus will create more problems. And there will be something new for sure. Because what do we do with vaccines? I can’t change or slow down the change of ORF3a at all. I hope BA.2.8 is a virus that can be controlled and doesn’t spread quickly.
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