Sampriti Roy, University of Calcutta
Coronavirus yet again presents new issues to worry about this year, aside from the devastating global pandemic it has caused. Over the last few weeks, a new “double mutant variant” has been detected in some pockets of India, particularly Delhi and Maharashtra. This “double mutant” strain has been found in 9 samples tested in Delhi and 206 samples (positive) tested in Maharashtra.
So, what exactly is a double mutant strain?
Normally, a virus uses different channels to enter and infect healthy cells. This is achieved through two channels known as:
• S protein or spike protein
• Ace 2 receptors.
As time passes, RNA viruses such as Sars-Cov2 and others change one or another channel through a natural mutation process. This allows them to escape the immune response of the body.
Till now, the strains of the Sars- Cov2 virus had mutations in one of the two channels. But what was found in Maharashtra was that the strains have mutations in both the Ace 2 receptors and spike proteins. As per government reports, these strains that have been found in 15-20% of samples aren’t found to match previous mutant strains.
A region that has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks is Nagpur. Here, nearly 20% of the samples that were COVID positive were sequenced to the double mutant strain. However, the statement by INSACOG or Indian Sars-Cov-2 Consortium on Genomics (the body assigned with conducting genome sequencing of these strains) must also be noted. According to INSACOG, the current number of variant cases seen are not enough to provide proof that there is a direct link between the COVID surge to the double mutant strains.
At present, the INSACOG (group of 10 national labs established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) is said to be expanding genomic sequencing of the samples.
Variants of Concern
Other than the double mutant, other mutant strains have been found as well. 771 samples were tested for mutant strains. They showed the following results:
• Number of samples positive for UK strain: 736
• Number of samples positive for a strain of South African lineage: 34
• Number of samples positive for Brazilian strain: 1
The above 3 strains have been put in the category of “Variants of concern”, which require additional surveillance and investigation that the government is currently conducting.
Some scientists have stated that the recent outbreaks related to COVID-19 do seem to be linked with one of the variants of concern, if not with the double mutant variant. However, the variants and double mutant strains are yet to be detected in sufficient numbers to establish that they are the source of the recent increase in cases in some states.
Though health authorities have stated that there is no concrete evidence just yet to link the newly observed strain to rise in cases, there is seen rising concern about the strains. The variants of concern require proper nationwide policies on surveillance and further investigation. From strains such as N440K that can cause reinfection to the observed effects of the double mutant and other strains, the future of these mutations affecting the population and how India as a nation handles the increasing cases due to these mutations remains to be seen.
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