I live in France and there are experts talking about the high mutability of Corona virus all the time.
Armando Arias, virologist at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain and researcher on RNA viruses says:
« RNA viruses (Corona Virus) with smaller genomes, can tolerate higher mutation frequencies (the number of mutations relative to the total number of nucleotides). This number is about 1 mutation per 10,000 nucleotides, which in the world of biology is a lot »
"Large DNA viruses have much lower mutation rates (between 100 and 10,000 times lower). Because their genomes are so large, they can only tolerate one mutation per 10,000 nucleotides. There are many random mutations accumulated in a single genome, which could inactivate some vital functions for the virus. Therefore, DNA viruses are less mutable, "
Esteban Domingo, a virologist at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center in Madrid says:
« RNA viruses also have polymerases (the enzymes that copy genetic material) that mutate more than DNA viruses. And they have no error repair mechanism.RNA viruses multiply by making mistakes until they end up forming what the scientist calls "Mutants clouds”. »
He's talking about most, but not all, RNA viruses.
Coronaviruses are an exception in that they typically have a very low mutation rate because they carry a "proof-reading enzyme" that actively corrects copy-errors.
The average mutation rate to date is only about 1-2 nucleotide variants per month compared to the original Wuhan isolate that was sequenced in early January.
But mutations are all about location. Almost all viral mutations will have no effect. Either because they don't actually change any amino acid sequences (DNA and RNA only exist to encode for the synthesis of proteins) or they result in a non-viable mutation that prevents the virus from competently replicating.
Things like the B.1.1.7 variant are concerning not because they represent some increase in mutation rate, but because they represent highly specific mutations driven by very specific evolutionary pressures that increase the virus's ability to thrive.
Dale- I have found that a low percentage of the articles that I have read even address long Covid. Some that I have seen do refer to “mild” cases that do not require admission to the hospital, yet months on, people are seriously debilitated. Have you seen any statistics on how common this outcome is for mild or asymptomatic Covid infections? Anything on long Covid and contagion?
When I started adding up the details that you listed...No Sterilizing Immunity, No Herd Immunity, Re-infection rate same as first-time infections...combined with the violent anti-mask, anti-vaccine sentiment out there, it seems to add up to an extraordinary number of dead and severely ill. I worry about the potential collapse of our medical delivery systems, and our food supply chains which will make things even worse.
I appreciate all that you are doing here. Your site is the best (most frightening) resource that I've found
I share exactly those same concerns. If people can be convinced to get vaccinated and continue to engage in some level of mitigation, things will improve.
But that seems unlikely...so I worry that 2021 may end up being worse than 2020.
I live in France and there are experts talking about the high mutability of Corona virus all the time.
Armando Arias, virologist at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain and researcher on RNA viruses says:
« RNA viruses (Corona Virus) with smaller genomes, can tolerate higher mutation frequencies (the number of mutations relative to the total number of nucleotides). This number is about 1 mutation per 10,000 nucleotides, which in the world of biology is a lot »
"Large DNA viruses have much lower mutation rates (between 100 and 10,000 times lower). Because their genomes are so large, they can only tolerate one mutation per 10,000 nucleotides. There are many random mutations accumulated in a single genome, which could inactivate some vital functions for the virus. Therefore, DNA viruses are less mutable, "
Esteban Domingo, a virologist at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center in Madrid says:
« RNA viruses also have polymerases (the enzymes that copy genetic material) that mutate more than DNA viruses. And they have no error repair mechanism.RNA viruses multiply by making mistakes until they end up forming what the scientist calls "Mutants clouds”. »
I’m confused about the virus mutability.
Can you help me to understand it?
Thanks
Eva
He's talking about most, but not all, RNA viruses.
Coronaviruses are an exception in that they typically have a very low mutation rate because they carry a "proof-reading enzyme" that actively corrects copy-errors.
The average mutation rate to date is only about 1-2 nucleotide variants per month compared to the original Wuhan isolate that was sequenced in early January.
But mutations are all about location. Almost all viral mutations will have no effect. Either because they don't actually change any amino acid sequences (DNA and RNA only exist to encode for the synthesis of proteins) or they result in a non-viable mutation that prevents the virus from competently replicating.
Things like the B.1.1.7 variant are concerning not because they represent some increase in mutation rate, but because they represent highly specific mutations driven by very specific evolutionary pressures that increase the virus's ability to thrive.
Thanks!
Dale- I have found that a low percentage of the articles that I have read even address long Covid. Some that I have seen do refer to “mild” cases that do not require admission to the hospital, yet months on, people are seriously debilitated. Have you seen any statistics on how common this outcome is for mild or asymptomatic Covid infections? Anything on long Covid and contagion?
John Pourchot
I've not really looked at the long-covid issue, but this is something definitely worth looking into and writing about...thanks!
When I started adding up the details that you listed...No Sterilizing Immunity, No Herd Immunity, Re-infection rate same as first-time infections...combined with the violent anti-mask, anti-vaccine sentiment out there, it seems to add up to an extraordinary number of dead and severely ill. I worry about the potential collapse of our medical delivery systems, and our food supply chains which will make things even worse.
I appreciate all that you are doing here. Your site is the best (most frightening) resource that I've found
I share exactly those same concerns. If people can be convinced to get vaccinated and continue to engage in some level of mitigation, things will improve.
But that seems unlikely...so I worry that 2021 may end up being worse than 2020.