JAX scientists explain COVID virus and variants
By Ezra Sassman
BAR HARBOR
— Although COVID-19 cases are falling across the country, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has mutated, developing variants preliminary studies have found to be more infectious than the original virus. At least one new variant, B.1.1.7, has shown up in Maine, after a test identified a positive case in Franklin County earlier this month.
The Islander spoke with Jackson Laboratory professors Dr. Derya Unutmaz, M.D., and Dr. Ryan Tewhey, Ph.D., to discuss how viruses mutate, how new SARS-CoV-2 variant cases are diagnosed and how well vaccines protect against these new strains.