What is the "double mutant" strain of the coronavirus all about?

 

The Indian Consortium on SARS-CoV-2 Genomics, a grouping of ten national laboratories formed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, confirmed on Wednesday that this new mutation was detected, above all, in the western state of Maharashtra after several tests. in the sequencing of the virus genome.

From the organization they expressed that "The analysis of samples from Maharashtra has revealed that, compared to December 2020, there has been an increase in the fraction of samples with the E484Q and L452R mutations." And they added: "these mutations have been found in approximately 15-20 percent of the samples and do not coincide with any previously cataloged VOC."

In the southern state of Kerala, 2,032 samples of the N440K variant have been sequenced, previously detected in 16 other countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. This variant of SARS-CoV-2 was also found in 33% of the samples analyzed in the state of Andhra Pradesh and in 53 of the 104 tests in Telangana, both located in southern India, reported the EFE agency.

The report underlines that "although several worrisome strains and a new double mutant variant have been found in India, they have not been detected in sufficient quantities to establish or link the rapid increase in cases in some states."

The genetic code of a virus works like an instruction manual. In that sense, mutations are common, they do not affect the ability of the virus to reproduce. In some cases, such as the British or South African strain, it can make it more contagious and deadly.

"A double mutation is two changes that occur at the same time within the same virus," virologist Shahid Jameel explained to the BBC. "If these mutations occur in some key areas of the virus protein, the risks can be increased, since they could allow it to bypass the immune system and make it more contagious," he completed.

The authorities warned that these new variants require the same epidemiological and public health response as other strains detected in other countries, such as "the follow-up of close contacts, the immediate isolation of positives, as well as the follow-up of the National Protocol established by each region." of the Asian country.