Current COVID-19 widespread mutation is more infectious than the original

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SUMMARY

The current COVID-19 mutation, specifically the D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, has been confirmed to increase the virus's infectivity and viral load in patients without altering the severity of symptoms. This mutation was first identified in February 2020 and has since spread globally. Key research supporting these findings is detailed in a 52-page article published in Cell, which outlines the mutation's impact on the virus's behavior.

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Tom.G
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Yup, it's mutated to be more contagious and has a higher viral load in patients, but does NOT change the severity of symptoms. It is a mutation that was noted back in Feb., 2020 of the original version from China, it has spread worldwide.

52 page research article in Cell :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.06.043

Popular News article:
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...tation-causing-covid-19-to-be-more-contagious

Curiouser and curiouser.
 
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Related article mentioned by the paper in Cell:

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.12.148726v1
The D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reduces S1 shedding and increases infectivity
Lizhou Zhang, Cody B Jackson, Huihui Mou, Amrita Ojha, Erumbi S Rangarajan, Tina Izard, Michael Farzan, Hyeryun Choe
 
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