Researchers have discovered seven variants of coronavirus in the United States, with a mutation in the same genetic letter, according to a new study.
They were discovered in states across the country and it is not yet clear if the strains are more contagious, but researchers are concerned.
“Obviously there’s something going on with this mutation,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at the Louisiana State University Center for Health Sciences in Shreveport. The New York Times.
Kamil, the co-author of the new study, said he was sequencing coronavirus samples when he noticed the new variants, which have mutations in the same amino acid. Scientists are concerned that mutations could facilitate the entry of the virus into human cells Time reported.
Kamil said all the viruses belonged to the same lineage and after entering the genome into an online database used by other scientists, he learned that there were scientists in New Mexico who also found the same variant with the same. mutation.
The lineage detected by Kamil dates back to December 1 and New Mexico samples date back to October, but it is unclear when these variants began. Samples from across the country have appeared with this variant, but with limited genome sequencing, it is difficult to understand the prevalence of these mutated viruses.
“Right now, I would be very hesitant to give a home location to any of these lineages,” Emma Hodcroft, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern and co-author of the new study, told the Times.
The study has not yet been peer-reviewed. Experts told the Time that additional experiments are needed to assess whether these mutations affect transmission or morbidity.
Other more contagious variants have been discovered elsewhere. A recent analysis found that a variant first discovered in the UK, known as B.1.1.7, is 35% to 45% more transmissible than other strains that spread to the US, while a new one. British government scientists’ assessment found that the same variant could be 30% to 70% more deadly than the original coronavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has predicted it will be the most common variant of coronavirus in March.
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
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