This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Researchers have identified a new mutation in the Covid-19 virus that makes it more infectious, sparking concerns about a potential increase in infection rates.
According to a study published on BioRxiv, the mutation, known as G614, affects the spike protein of the virus, making it easier for the virus to invade human cells.
The study, conducted by the Scripps Research Institute, found that the new strain is 10 times more infectious than the original strain that originated in Wuhan, China.
Lead researcher Hyeryun Cho explained that the mutation 'compensates' for the earlier weakness of the spike protein, making the virus more stable and likely to spread faster.
Cho noted that the epidemiological data and the study's findings together explain why the G variant spread quickly in Europe and the US.
While the research is yet to be reviewed, another study by Los Alamos National Laboratory showed similar results, emphasizing that patients with the G variant have more virus in their bodies, making them more likely to spread it to others.
The study also found that the mutated form of the virus is less likely to break off when trying to bind to ACE2 receptors in people's airways, making it easier to invade cells.
Despite the increased infectiousness of the new strain, researchers have found that it does not appear to be more deadly than the original strain.
However, the slow pace of the virus's mutation is seen as beneficial to vaccine developers, as the new copies are not far off from the original virus.
