New Variant Virus Found Again in UK... "Similar to South Africa-Origin Variant"

Expected to Have Increased Infectivity... Similar to Previously Identified Variant Viruses
"Vaccine Improvements Expected to Be Effective Against Multiple Detected Variant Viruses"

The process of conducting genetic testing for the COVID-19 virus
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Amid growing concerns over the spread of the variant virus originating from the UK, another type of variant virus has been discovered in the UK. Since it has a form similar to the existing variant viruses, there is a possibility that its transmissibility is higher, causing health authorities to be on alert.

On the 15th (local time), according to The Guardian, researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK announced a report stating, "Through genetic analysis of confirmed cases from 10 countries including the UK, a new type of variant virus has been discovered." The researchers analyzed through genetic tracing that this mutation first occurred in December last year in the UK and Nigeria.

According to the report, the variant referred to as B1525 has a genetic structure similar to the existing UK variant virus (B117) and the South African variant virus (E484K). The researchers stated, "Like the existing variant viruses, the spike protein is in a mutated form," adding, "This could potentially weaken the protective barrier of vaccines."

The spike protein is a structure that plays a crucial role in the virus's penetration into cells. Most vaccines developed so far work by neutralizing the spike protein to prevent virus transmission, but if mutations occur in the spike protein, the effectiveness of vaccines inevitably decreases.

Simon Clarke, a professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said, "The transmissibility and lethality of this variant are not yet known, so further analysis is needed," warning, "If it is found that transmissibility is significantly enhanced, the effectiveness of existing vaccines will be considerably weakened."

There is also an expectation that rapid response is possible since the newly discovered variant virus has a form similar to existing variants. Jonathan Stoye, a professor at the Francis Crick Institute, a UK life sciences research center, predicted, "If existing vaccines are modified, they could be effective against many of the variant viruses discovered so far."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.