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The secret of this new coronavirus variant: Why is its genetic combination so special?
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread around the world, scientists are focusing their attention on newly emerging virus variants. The Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) is a notable example. The variant was first discovered in December 2020 and quickly attracted global attention. The genetic combination and mutations behind it not only caused a sudden increase in the speed of transmission, but also posed challenges to the prevention and control measures against this variant.
The Alpha variant is believed to be 40% to 80% more contagious than the traditional new coronavirus, and this figure was estimated to be as high as 100% in the early stages of the epidemic.
In December 2020, genetic testing in the UK showed that the variant was spreading rapidly in the Kent region and was closely related to the surge in the epidemic there. As of January 2021, genetic sequencing results in the UK showed that more than half of the new coronavirus samples were Alpha variants, prompting scientists to wonder whether there are other important variants around the world that have also not been detected.
"Almost all variants are likely to have different mutational effects that may alter their transmission, pathogenicity, and even response to vaccines."
The Alpha variant's genetic combination contains 23 mutations, which not only affect the protein structure of the virus but also promote increased infection. Particularly prominent mutations are N501Y and E484K, both of which have been shown to alter the virus's ability to bind to human cell receptors, thereby increasing the variant's contagiousness.
Research also indicates that the symptoms of the Alpha variant are more diverse than previous variants. Research from the Imperial College of the UK shows that in addition to the common fever and cough, infected people often experience symptoms such as muscle pain, headache and loss of appetite.
"All of the emerging symptoms we're seeing show clear differences between the new variants and past strains of the virus."
As variants spread, diagnostic methods also face challenges. Many rapid antigen tests are still able to detect the Alpha variant, but scientists stress that full diagnostic accuracy requires the support of genomic sequencing. This is particularly important given the rapid spread of the virus and its increasing rate of mutation.
As for the effectiveness of existing vaccines, although initial data showed that the vaccine's protection against the Alpha variant has not decreased significantly, major vaccine manufacturers are still closely monitoring the effectiveness of the vaccine as more complex mutations emerge.
"Continued vaccine development and adaptation are key to responding to variants, especially given the challenges posed by mutant strains."
While guarding against the new coronavirus, we should also strive to understand the reasons behind the virus mutation in order to consider possible response strategies in the future. The rapid spread of the Alpha variant and the changes in symptoms it causes undoubtedly remind us once again that the virus is not just a health issue, but also a challenge that all mankind needs to face together.
As scientists conduct in-depth research on these variants, will we be able to truly find effective solutions to these mutations and control the epidemic in the future?
