It’s been reported that there’s a single change in an important viral protein that could have helped the virus make the jump from animals to people – this has led to the virus becoming the terrible plague that it is today.
Science News notes that this particular mutation seems to help the virus spike protein strongly latch onto the human version of a host protein that is called ACE2 that the virus is using in order to enter and infect cells.
This has been reported by experts In the journal Cell back on July 6.
The online publication mentioned above notes that this particular ability to lock onto the human cells was stronger with the mutated virus than with other coronaviruses lacking the change.
The virus better replicates in the lab
Another important issue worth mentioning is the fact that the mutated virus better replicates in laboratory-grown human lung cells than previous versions of the virus do.
“Without this mutation, I don’t think the pandemic would have happened like it has.”
This is what James Weger-Lucarelli, a virologist at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, has recently stated. The coronavirus’s global spread might have been less likely; he also pointed out.
Long covid has more than 200 symptoms
Earlier today, we revealed that the symptoms of long covid could be extremely dangerous and unpleasant.
The Guardian is addressing long covid and its symptomatology.
The prestigious publication notes that the largest ever international study of people with long covid has found that there are more than 200 symptoms of the disease and called for experts to implement a national screening programme.
“A lot of post-Covid clinics in the UK have focused on respiratory rehabilitation. It’s true that a lot of people have shortness of breath, but they also have a lot of other problems and types of symptoms that the clinics need to provide a more holistic approach to.”
This is what Athena Akrami, a neuroscientist at University College London and senior author of the study, recently said.
