ONLY THOSE with a propensity to survive will do so. So it is foolish to think that in this war between humans and SARS-COV-2, only humans are getting ready with treatment protocols, prevention measures and vaccines. Being a virus which is far more agile than humans, SARS-COV-2, too, is mutating and changing its infection strategies to survive against all odds.
Scientists say not all mutations are noteworthy. Usually they keep an eye out for changes in the antigen —a molecular structure present on the outside of the pathogen, which the immune system reads to trigger a response against it. Most of the time, the changes are insignificant and at best just create sensational headlines. But scientists get alarmed when they encounter mutations that can make the virus more infectious and aggressive. The first such prominent change in sarscov-2 appeared as early as February 2020, when it displayed a mutation termed “D614G”. The mutation helped the virus spread faster and infect more easily than the one originated in Wuhan, China, but did not change its other properties nor made it more lethal. By June 2020, the strain with D614G mutation had replaced the original one, circulating globally.
The other significant change was in a strain found in minks in Denmark in September 2020. According to the World Health Organization (who), the mutation reduced the capacity of the host's immune system to neutralise the virus. However, it did not spread much; only 12 human cases have been documented with this strain so far, and studies are going on to understand its other impacts.
Denne historien er fra January 16, 2021-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra January 16, 2021-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
