Researchers identify a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant (A.VOI.V2) in southern Africa
A team of international scientists has recently explored the transmission dynamics of currently circulating variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a southern African country. By analyzing the genomic sequences of these variants, they have identified a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant with multiple spike mutations. They have temporarily designated the variant A.VOI.V2. A detailed description of the genomic surveillance they carried out is currently available on the
Background
Since its emergence in December 2019, SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has undergone more than 12,000 mutations. The majority of these mutations are found in the viral spike protein, which is a glycoprotein on the viral envelope required for establishing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because of robust immunogenicity, the spike protein is considered to be the most potent
Research surveys hygiene practices in food supply chains during COVID-19 pandemic
With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many worried they could be exposed to its causative pathogen – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – through their food. While more research has suggested transmission through food contamination is unlikely, it has highlighted a need to investigate hygiene and safety practices in food supply chains.
Research led by Igor Tomasevic of the University of Belgrade in Siberia found that food safety was not compromised with restrictive hygiene procedures implemented during the pandemic.
This study provides an important insight into the response of food safety systems during the first months of the pandemic, elevating the perspective of preventing Covid-19 within conventional food safety management systems,” wrote the research team.
Antibodies produced from infection with SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 protect against other variants
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to claim thousands of lives daily around the world, the pathogen responsible for it, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to undergo mutational changes. A recent paper in the journal
Nature shows that while earlier lineages do not elicit antibodies capable of efficiently neutralizing the newly emerged South African variant, SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), the converse does occur.
The SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant
The constant occurrence of mutations in the various regions of the viral genome has led to the emergence of a multitude of variants, some of which have become global variants of concern (VOCs).
Discovery of cryptic pocket in SARS-CoV-2 may lead to pan-coronavirus therapies
Coronaviruses have been around for a long time and have caused several recent deadly outbreaks. The most recent is the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
A new research paper published in the
Biophysical Journal describes a novel binding pocket used by a viral non-structural protein (nsp) to form an activated complex with its partner nsp. In so doing, it may have revealed a common target that may be useful in the development of a broad-spectrum antiviral drug against all coronaviruses.
COVID-19 surges are driven by appearance of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, genome sequencing shows
Genome sequencing of thousands of SARS-CoV-2 samples shows that surges of COVID-19 cases are driven by the appearance of new coronavirus variants, according to new research from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis published April 1 in
Scientific Reports.
As variants emerge, you re going to get new outbreaks.
Bart Weimer, Professor of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis
The merger of classical epidemiology with genomics provides a tool public health authorities could use to predict the course of pandemics, whether of coronavirus, influenza or some new pathogen.