Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: BBC



Officials are keeping a close watch on a new descendant of the Delta variant of Covid that is causing a growing number of infections. Delta is the UK's dominant variant, but latest official data suggests 6% of Covid cases that have been genetically sequenced are of a new type. AY.4.2, which some are calling "Delta Plus", contains mutations that might give the virus survival advantages. Tests are under way to understand how much of a threat it may pose. Experts say it is unlikely to take off in a big way or escape current vaccines.

It is not yet considered a variant of concern, or a variant under investigation - the categories assigned to variants and the level of risk associated with them.

What is AY.4.2?

There are thousands of different types - or variants - of Covid circulating across the world. Viruses mutate all the time, so it is not surprising to see new versions emerge. Original Delta was classified as a variant of concern in the UK in May 2021 after overtaking the Alpha variant to become the dominant type of Covid in circulation. But in July 2021 experts identified AY.4.2. This offshoot or sublineage of Delta has been increasing slowly since then. It includes some new mutations affecting the spike protein, which the virus uses to penetrate our cells.

So far, there is no indication that it is considerably more transmissible as a result of these changes, but it is something experts are studying. The mutations - Y145H and A222V - have been found in various other coronavirus lineages since the beginning of the pandemic.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58965650

[AZLD4Candidate]

1. Very simply biological science: If you don't give a pathogen a chance to hop from organism to

organism, the pathogen dies off.

As it is transferred from one organism to another, the chance for mutation increases.

Unreal how so many people don't know this or accept it.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

3. I don't think we can stop it from moving in wild animals.

The vaccines could work for humans, but we need to get the whole world up to western levels.

[AZLD4Candidate]

7. Zoonosis may happen. It did with SIV and HIV.

[NullTuples]

6. Corollary: the more a virus replicates, the more it mutates

Mutation rate per x infections is a function of each virus.

Every time COVID hits a new pocket of unvaxxed people, there is a good chance it will mutate. And eventually one of those mutations will be able to circumvent current vaccines rendering them nearly useless. And we'll be right back to square one.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I think I recall reading that some of these offshoots

are producing spike proteins that are twisted/folded in a certain way that makes it harder for antibodies to get to, so they are able to survive longer, including long enough to attach to cells and reproduce before being neutralized.

[IronLionZion]

4. There are probably many more we don't know about

[cstanleytech]

5. Considering how widespread this virus is I wonder if it could have been with it for years

among the population getting people mildly sick and if the only reason we knew about it now is because a variant mutated into a more deadly form finally?