Scientists in Israel and France have identified new, not previously encountered mutations of the coronavirus. Scientists have published a description of the Israeli virus on medRxiv, and the local publication DNA reports on the French strain.. It is noted that on the territory of Israel, a new strain appeared at the end of autumn 2020 and differs from other varieties of the virus by a unique mutation in a key envelope protein. Analyzing samples from different cities in Israel, which were collected between August 2020 and January 2021, scientists noticed that they contained an unusually large number of fragments of the genome of a new type of coronavirus with the same mutation, P681H. It represented a small change in the structure of the S-protein of the virus - a key part of its envelope, which is responsible for penetration into the cell.. Calculations led scientists to suggest that P681H makes the virus more infectious. Therefore, biologists are interested in how much this mutation is common among the inhabitants of Israel.. Scientists have studied several hundred samples of biological fluids from patients who contracted COVID-19 at the end of last fall. This analysis led to the conclusion that a new unique SARS-CoV-2 strain has appeared in Israel.. It is characterized not only by the P681H mutation, but also by some other changes in the RNA structure.. It is noted that the new mutation has not yet affected the number of infections or the frequency of hospitalizations of its carriers.. Scientists continue to monitor the further spread and accumulation of mutations in the genome of this species.. Meanwhile, a new mutated strain of coronavirus has been registered in the historic Alsace region of France.. The regional agency received data from the University of Strasbourg hospitals on the spread of a special variant of the virus that had not previously been detected. It is noted that the new strain is characterized by a mutation of the polymerase enzyme that forms nucleic acid polymers. In the departments of the region, this virus was detected at 8.8% in the Upper Rhine and 4.4% in the Lower Rhine among the PCR tests carried out. In addition, Alsace recorded a significant increase in the circulation of the English variant of the coronavirus - 81.1% among the detected cases last week.. South African and Brazilian strains account for 5.6% of infections.

Recall that a previously unknown strain of COVID-19 was also revealed in the Czech Republic. It is not more dangerous than British or South African. His study continues. Earlier, a new strain of COVID - with a double mutation - found in India. According to the Ministry of Health, there is no evidence of a direct link between the increase in the incidence in the country and the new strain.. In Ukraine, the British strain of COVID has critical changes News from Telegram. Subscribe to our channel https: // t. me / korrespondentnet Author: 1.