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

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The discussion highlights the emergence of a mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, specifically the D614G mutation, which has been observed to increase the virus's contagiousness and viral load in infected individuals without altering the severity of symptoms. This mutation was first noted in February 2020 and has since spread globally. A 52-page research article published in the journal Cell provides detailed findings on this mutation, while a related article discusses its implications for infectivity. The mutation's characteristics suggest it enhances the virus's ability to spread, raising concerns about public health measures.
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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Thread 'Australian Funnel-web spiders and delta-hexatoxin (aka Versutoxin)'

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-deadliest-spider-in-the-world-ends-lives-in-hours-but-its-venom-may-inspire-medical-miracles-48107 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versutoxin#Mechanism_behind_Neurotoxic_Properties https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028390817301557 (subscription or purchase requred) he structure of versutoxin (δ-atracotoxin-Hv1) provides insights into the binding of site 3 neurotoxins to the voltage-gated sodium channel...
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Thread 'Here comes COVID-19 version BA.2, BA.4, BA.5,...'

Popular article referring to the BA.2 variant: Popular article: (many words, little data) https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/health/ba-2-covid-severity/index.html Preprint article referring to the BA.2 variant: Preprint article: (At 52 pages, too many words!) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.14.480335v1.full.pdf [edited 1hr. after posting: Added preprint Abstract] Cheers, Tom
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