- A new study says that a more infectious strain of the novel coronavirus is already roaming the earth, and it’s the dominant version of SARS-CoV-2.
- A mutation concerning the region on the virus that binds to human cells makes the virus more contagious, researchers say. That doesn’t mean the virus is deadlier than the original strain from Wuhan.
- It’s unclear whether the mutated virus will affect the efficacy of any of the existing COVID-19 vaccine candidates that are in development or human trials.
- Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.
A few weeks ago, research suggested that the novel coronavirus isn’t mutating as fast as the flu virus, and the mutations aren’t significant. That’s good news for anyone working on a vaccine candidate for COVID-19, because an effective drug could induce long-lasting immunity and prevent infection.
The bad news is that a new study claims the virus already developed a notable mutation that makes it even more infectious than the original strain. That version is the dominant one right now, which could explain the massive spike in infections over the past few months. But just because it’s more infectious doesn’t mean it’s more deadly than the original, researchers say. However, if the vaccine candidates that are being developed target the milder form, there’s no guarantee they’ll work against the more potent strain. On the other hand, it’s not all bad news. If the new strain is dominant, then all the vaccines that have already reached human trials will come in contact with the mutated virus and would be able to prove their efficacy against it.
Today’s Top Deals
- Someone reverse-engineered N95 face masks: Here’s how to make your own
- 10 Amazon deals that are only available to Prime members
- Today’s top deals: Face masks, Prime-exclusive deals, hand sanitizer, AirPods, UV phone sanitizers, Echo Show 8, more
Trending Right Now:
- Here’s when the next round of coronavirus stimulus checks will arrive
- Scientists finally explained one of the strangest coronavirus symptoms
- Cinco de Mayo 2020 deals: All the best freebies and discounts
Study says a new mutation might make coronavirus more infectious originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 5 May 2020 at 15:36:19 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read more here:: Boy Genius Report