Language
Country/Area
No result found
How dangerous are Gamma mutant strains? These three mutations scare scientists!
The Gamma variant (P.1) is one of many variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. This mutant strain was first discovered in Japan in January 2021. Its main mutations include N501Y, E484K and K417T. These mutations mark the harm it may cause in terms of transmissibility and lethality.
The Gamma variant contains a total of 17 amino acid substitutions, 10 of which appear in its spike protein, making scientists even more worried about its ability to spread.
According to reports, the P.1 variant was first detected by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) in Japan on January 6, 2021, when four travelers from the Brazilian Amazon were confirmed to be infected. (Gamma variant) Subsequently, the variant spread rapidly in Brazil.
According to the World Health Organization's simplified naming scheme, P.1 is labeled as a Gamma variant and will be listed as a variant of concern until March 2022. This mutant strain caused widespread infections in the Brazilian city of Manaus in early 2021. The local area had previously experienced large-scale infections in May 2020.
Research shows that the risk of infectivity and death of people infected with P.1 is significantly higher than that of people infected with other mutant strains B.1.1.28, which makes the Gamma mutant strain a major concern for the scientific community.
There are significant differences between the Gamma variant and the Zeta variant (P.2). The latter only carries the E484K mutation and does not have other worrying mutations N501Y and K417T. This makes the virological characteristics of the Gamma variant more prominent and shows higher adaptability and transmission speed.
Effects of mutations
The Gamma variant has 10 unique spike protein mutations, including N501Y and E484K. These mutations play a critical role in the transmissibility of variants and their ability to escape acquired immunity. Studies have shown that people infected with P.1 have a significant ability to escape the full neutralizing effect of antibodies, which means that even vaccinated people are at risk of reinfection.
In addition, the L452R mutation of the P.1 variant has also attracted public and scientific attention. This mutation has been found in other variants, such as Delta and Kappa variants. This mutation may affect the structure and function of the virus, thereby increasing its ability to spread.
Vaccine Challenges
The development and administration of vaccines play an important role in controlling the epidemic, but the emergence of Gamma mutant strains has challenged the effectiveness of vaccines. One study pointed out that people who were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines had a significantly reduced ability to neutralize the P.1 variant, suggesting that the variant is resistant to existing vaccine immunity.
There are also research reports pointing out that people vaccinated with CoronaVac vaccine did not respond well to antibodies against Gamma mutant strains. These results emphasize the importance of research on mutant strains and vaccine adjustment, and have also triggered people’s concerns about before and after vaccination. Consideration of issues such as antibody persistence.
The future of Gamma mutant strains
Over time, the impact of the Gamma variant appears to have diminished, and according to the World Health Organization, by March 2022, the variant was listed as a previously circulating variant without detection new cases. While the news is a relief, scientists warn that new mutant strains may still emerge in the future and once again pose a threat to public health.
Even though the current threat of Gamma mutant strains seems to have decreased, the potential impact of its mutations still requires vigilance. It is thought-provoking whether mutant strains that may appear in the future will once again change the way we face the epidemic.
In this era when the COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread, the monitoring and research of mutant strains is the core of the prevention and control strategy. An open question has emerged: How should we prepare for the future and deal with the challenges of possible new coronavirus mutant strains in the future?
