What
is a Mutation study against coronavirus?
A Mutated variant of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 has been associated with recent infections in England. The question being raised is whether the mutation could affect people’s response to vaccines—and scientists say this is unlikely. The virus has undergone several mutations since it first infected humans, which scientists say is neither unexpected nor a cause for panic.
What
is a mutation?
A mutation means a change
in the genetic sequence of the virus. In the case of SARS-CoV2, which is an RNA
virus, a mutation means a change in the sequence in which its molecules are
arranged. 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 as per National
Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences , Bangalore.
What
is the new mutation?
UK researchers have
identified it as N501Y. The virus carrying this mutation has caused 1,100 new
infections in 60 local authority areas, according to reports quoting UK Health
Secretary Matt Hancock. The Consortium for Covid-19 genomics UK(COGUK) has been
tracking the mutation and is likely to provide a critique soon. Prof Ravi said
that it is likely to be a mutation in the spike protein. 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.
Is
a mutation in the spike protein particularly significant?
Depending on the
doctor, there will be more concerns about mutation in the region than in other
regions of the coronavirus genome. It is a coronavirus spike protein that binds
to human protein to initiate the infection process. Therefore, changes here may
affect how the virus behaves in terms of its ability to infect, or cause
serious infections, or escape the viral response caused by vaccines - but these
are theoretical concerns at the moment. Through the epidemic, more than 4,000
changes have been detected in the spike region. This one first appeared in
Brazil in April, in several stages of litigation. As prices have risen in the
UK, the need to understand why the increase is and what it means. Currently,
there is no data showing difficulty or rapid spread.
What
can it mean for people’s response to coronavirus vaccines?
Several coronavirus
vaccines are designed to create antibodies targeting the spike protein. But the
vaccines target multiple regions on the spike, while a mutation refers to a
change in a single point. So, if there is one mutation, it does not mean
vaccines would not work. But changes in the virus will be tracked around the
world because there is now unprecedented sequencing capacity and data sharing.
Should
we worry about these changes?
Genetic mutations will
continue to occur and new strains of the virus will survive or disappear
depending on our immune response and their ability to multiply and transmit.
But all aspects of SARS-CoV2 are genetically similar and scientists expect this
mutation to have a greater impact on their ability to cause more serious
diseases than have been observed so far. Many changes mean nothing at all or at
least very successful for reasons we do not know. For example, a different
strain can be easily transmitted, but it can cause fewer infections.
Significantly, we need to be vigilant, but at present, there is no evidence
that the new species in the UK is contagious or large and is not subject to
treatment or vaccination.
Is
this mutated strain in India?
We have not seen this
variant in India,” said Dr Rakesh Mishra, Director, CISR-Centre for Cellular
and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. “But we are watching out for mutations
as they are constantly happening. For the moment, it is not something to be worried
about and is restricted to a few countries.” Scientists at CCMB have analysed several
thousand SARS-CoV-2 genomes from India available in the public domain. There
are no indications so far that the UK mutation has more affinity to theACE-2 receptor
(the human protein with which the virus spike protein binds). Also, it is not
proven that there are clinical and immunological consequences.
To
reduce the spread of aerosol in dental clinics, reduce the speed of drilling
DENTAL PROCEDURES can
pose a serious risk of transmission because the tools often produce aerosols -
they may contain the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. New research has found that
careful dental workout can reduce the spread of aerosol. Aerosols are produced
when saliva mixes with water and air currents are used in dental procedures.
Now, researchers have measured and evaluated aerosol production during the
dental process and proposed changes to prevent contamination to improve the
safety of both patients and dental staff.
They suggest that
dentists avoid using dental tests that use a combination of air and water as
abrasion coolants and carefully select and control the rotational speeds of
those water-only instruments as a coolant. They also point to limitations that
will allow other procedures such as dental fillings to be provided while
producing fewer eerosol drops than the standard procedure.
At the dental clinics
at Guy's Hospital in London, researchers have explored how aerosols are
regenerated between different processes. They measured the production of
aerosol using high-speed cameras and lasers. They found that using a variety of
turbine drills creates thick clouds of aerosol droplets that spread rapidly up
to 12 feet per second and could quickly contaminate the entire treatment room.
Just one milliliter of saliva for infected patients contains as many as 120
million copies, each of which has the potential to infect.
They have tested a
different type of drill, known as high-power micromotor torque, through and
without water and air currents. Using this type of drill at low speeds and
without air currents, they have acquired and produced 60 drops smaller than the
turbine drill types. Also, the concentration of aerosol and diffusion in the
room depends on the patient's placement, ventilation systems, and room
geometry. It is also influenced by the initial direction and speed of the
aerosol itself, which can be affected by the type of cutting metal (burr), and
the amount and type of cooling water used.