Most countries in Europe, first Canada, then Germany, France, Italy, and recently about 40 countries around the world, including India and Pakistan, have canceled all flights to the UK and closed the border. And the only reason for this is a new mutation of the coronavirus in the UK which has turned the virus into a highly contagious mutant virus!
On 16 December, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, officially announced that a coronavirus mutation had occurred in their country, causing a rapid spread of corona infection in the south and south-east of the country, including London. The virus has been found in the bodies of 72 percent of infected people in the region. The spread of this new mutant virus has increased by 60 percent, increasing the number of R-Knots by 0.4 percent. The higher the R-Knot number, the faster the spread of the virus. The idea is that very soon almost all infections in these areas will be transmitted with this new mutant coronavirus. A fourth stage lock-down has been announced in the affected areas, including a ban on Christmas celebrations in the country, to avoid potential catastrophe and stop the spread of the virus to other parts of the country.
And to prevent the mutant virus from spreading from the UK to other countries, various countries have cut off all air communication with the UK.
Is this the first mutation of coronavirus?
No. Coronavirus is a type of mRNA virus that is naturally mutated. The coronavirus that is now responding worldwide is different from the virus that first appeared in Wuhan, China. The virus that has existed since March is a mutated virus with a D614G mutation in the spike protein. This mutation is thought to have slightly increased the transmission capacity of the mutated virus from the original virus.
Spike protein is a thorn-like protein in the shell of the coronavirus that transmits the virus by binding to the ACE-II receptor in human cells. If the structure of the spike protein changes through mutations, the virus can also change its behavior.
Another special mutation in Europe occurred in the spike protein of the virus. This mutation is known as A-222-V. This mutation in the virus was caught in infected people going on holiday in Spain this summer.
Why are recent UK mutations so horrible?
There have been 18 recent mutations in the coronavirus spike protein in the UK, which exist simultaneously as polygenic cluster mutations. That is, all mutations exist in the same virus. And this mutation also causes changes in amino acids. And since protein molecules are made up of amino acids, the structure of spike proteins has undergone major changes due to 18 mutations simultaneously. And this is why the virus has changed its form. The following are some of the major mutations that have occurred:
1) N-501-Y mutation: This mutation occurs in the receptor-binding domain or RBD of the spike protein. RBD is a tiny part of the end of a spike protein through which the virus attaches to the ACE-II receptor in the cell. Experiments have shown that mutations in the N-501-Y mutation increase the tendency of the mutated virus to bind to receptors.
(2) H-69 / V-60 Dilation: Due to this mutation, two amino acids are lost from the spike protein, or a small part of the protein is broken down.
3) P-61-H mutation: This mutation occurred at the junction of the S-1 and S-2 sub-units of the spike protein at the furin cleavage site. Spike activates the spike protein by reacting furin on this part of the protein. So any mutation or change in this cleavage site can change the nature of the virus.
Due to the above mutations, the virus spread very fast, but the severity of Covid did not increase much. However, if the infection is high, more people will get sick. And when more people get sick, the total death rate goes up a bit
Will this new mutation affect the effectiveness of the vaccine?
Spike proteins have changed in 16 places due to coronavirus mutations in the UK. This spike protein is the target of all the vaccines that have been developed so far. So it is not uncommon for the vaccine to lose its effectiveness due to structural changes in this protein. So far, however, scientists believe that the current mutation will not have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the vaccine. However, there is still no experimental data on it.
Will this mutation have any effect on the Covid test?
The answer is yes. In the RT-PCR covid test, if only the S-gene is targeted in virus detection, then a false negative result may come. However, there is no problem in testing for insects that have the RdRp gene and the E gene or N gene target. However, no matter which insect is used, the 3-gene test insect must be used.
What should do at this time?
So far, the Corona situation is under control. However, arrangements have to be made to prevent the UK's new mutant coronavirus from entering Bangladesh in any way. As many as 40 countries cut off all flights to the United Kingdom on Monday. India and Pakistan are also in Qatar.
Not only that. It is now important to sequence the genes of at least 5 samples for every 100 covid tests, as the new mutant virus was found in the UK in September. London and Kent are the epicenters of this mutant virus. Lots of Bangladeshis live in this region and they visit the country regularly. Many British expatriates came to Bangladesh from September to December. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. So keep your eyes and ears open.
Such notions have basis in science. It can permanently alter things about us - phenotype, disposition, mood, thought patterns etc.