Page 64 - Mutation News Today

A group led by Prof. Han Dong of Peking University School of Stomatology reported for the first time hand preaxial polydactyly in patients with tooth agenesis carrying a previously unknown mutation of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6).

The new Omicron variant of coronavirus, with its many mutations and seemingly quick spread in South Africa, is worrying scientists and government officials.

We ask our science correspondent Derrick Williams: As the SARS-CoV-2 virus inevitably continues to mutate, could it also mutate to become less deadly?

There are 42 cases in ten different countries, so this is spreading very fast. that number is probably already out of date. there is already 22 here in the u.k. we can expect that those numbers are going to be increasing dramatically, but still, katy, important to note, most of those cases still have some connection back to southern africa. not all of them, but most of them. so whether it was actually -- whether the virus, whether the mutation comes from southern africa as was suspected at first...

They want especially now with omicron out there as the next threat. >> dana: one of the things the president said yesterday is the mutation was cause for concern but not panic and "the new york times" today had this piece in their morning newsletter which i always read saying it is possible that mutations make a virus more fear some but it also could make it weaker or cancel each other out. will we know that in two weeks? >> i think well have a sense of that by watching what happens in south afr...

Were still getting variants? >> no doubt about it. when you have a high degree of viral dynamics in the circulation of this country or any country in the world, its a danger essentially to everyone because once the virus has the capability of freely mutating and freely transmitting from person to person, ultimately youre going to get mutations. not every mutation is relevant but every once in awhile you get a consolation of mutations that are worrisome and thats what were dealing with this curre...

Is, this is the spike protein. this is omicron specifically. all those different colors represent new mutations. theres e484a. you dont need to remember that, but it is a mutation that can help the virus escape some of the protection from the antibodies. theres another one, 501, which basically makes it more transmissible. thats what the scientists are working on right now, to try to figure out how well do the vaccines work, will a new type of vaccine be necessary in the future? >> then, you kno...

The delta surge. i think its much better if it turns out to be a false alarm and we did all the preparations and it turn out not to be a big deal but actually one of the things it could help with is maybe getting boosters out, for example, could help us to stem the delta surge. getting prepared is exactly the right thing for us to do at this point. >> sanjay, can you just give us kind of the long view in this? because just hearing this, i main i think like a lot of people, when i heard this news...

And this is maybe what makes us hopeful. >> i do understand these are early stages, but i also think it is important that people know what you are seeing. you are seeing people who have been infected or vaccinated, and theyre just not very sick, which is exactly what you hope for with the vaccine in general. >> yes. >> we dont know over the next few weeks as the tests come back if maybe, maybe the omicron will find ways to evade the vaccine. as of now, it does seem to be offering some protection...

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