Stories of multiple strains of the novel coronavirus have enthralled the media - after all, Covid-19 is an RNA virus that on average mutates every two weeks. Could these multiple strains be responsible for the vast range of symptoms we’re seeing in those infected? And what about the most recent reports of the 10x more infectious Italian Strain? Will all of this have massive implications for a vaccine?
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Viruses and Mutation
2:57 The Two Strains
4:35 10x More Infectious?
6:38 What does this mean?
8:42 Conclusion
References:
MEDIA:
Healthline: Mutations and Vaccines - Dr Mark Schleiss, Dr Benjamin Neumann
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-to-know-about-mutation-and-covid-19
i News: The GI link explained
https://www.google.com/amp/s/inews.co.uk/news/health/diarrhoea-coronavirus-symptoms-covid-19-gastrointestinal-link-explained-444853/amp
Coronavirus Mutations - Ed Yong, The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-strains-transmissible/611239/
Mail Online, SAGE Files
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8288189/At-12-different-strains-coronavirus-circulating-UK-March.html
Mirror Online, 12 Strains:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/study-claims-were-12-different-21979009
USA Today, 8 Strains
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/27/scientists-track-coronavirus-strains-mutation/5080571002/
Times of Israel, 10x more infectious:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-dominant-form-of-virus-10-times-more-infectious-than-original-strain/
STUDIES:
BMJ Gut Journal, Ng & Tilg
https://gut.bmj.com/content/69/6/973
Science Daily, University of Cambridge (A, B, C)
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200409085644.htm
National Science Review, Tang et al (S&L lineages)
https://academic.oup.com/nsr/article/7/6/1012/5775463
Los Alamos, D614G, Korber et al:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.29.069054v2
Scripps Research Institute, D614G
https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2020/20200612-choe-farzan-coronavirus-spike-mutation.html
Cell: Korber et al
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)30820-5
