Mutations

Why is Delta so infectious? New lab tool spotlights little noticed mutation

Fri, 2021-11-05 19:35 — mike kraft

New lab tool spotlights mutation that speeds spread of Delta variant

As the world has learned to its cost, the Delta variant of the pandemic coronavirus is more than twice as infectious as previous strains. Just what drives Delta’s ability to spread so rapidly hasn’t been clear, however. Now, a new lab strategy that makes it possible to quickly and safely study the effects of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants has delivered one answer: a little-noticed mutation in Delta that allows the virus to stuff more of its genetic code into host cells, thus boosting the chances that each infected cell will spread the virus to another cell.

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Tennessee passes a number of measures undercutting COVID-19 protections, while making modificatins sought by businesses

Sat, 2021-10-30 10:41 — mike kraft

Tennessee targets virus measures, stop at mask mandate bans Lawmakers approved the slate of bills early Saturday while most Tennesseans were asleep, marking the second time the Legislature has recently advanced significant legislation in the middle of the n… apatton WKRN News 2

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Three takeaways from the emergence of the ‘Delta Plus’ coronavirus variant

Thu, 2021-10-28 18:57 — mike kraft

3 takeaways from the emergence of the ‘Delta Plus’ coronavirus variant - STAT Experts say Delta Plus is more of a headache than a devastating gamechanger in the scope of the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew Joseph STAT

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Explanation: What is the ‘delta plus’ variant of the coronavirus?

Fri, 2021-10-22 10:02 — mike kraft

What is the 'delta plus' variant of the coronavirus? What is the “delta plus” variant? It’s a relative of the delta variant, identified by British scientists last month. Because it isn't a variant of interest or concern, it has not yet been officially named after a letter of the Greek alphabet, like the other worrisome variants. AP NEWS

What is the “delta plus” variant?

It’s a relative of the delta variant, identified by British scientists last month.

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CDC director: No evidence that AY 4.2 subvariant impacts effectiveness of vaccines or therapeutics

Wed, 2021-10-20 12:36 — mike kraft

CDC director: There's no evidence that AY 4.2 subvariant impacts effectiveness of vaccines or therapeutics There’s no evidence a new sublineage of the Delta variant is having any significant effect in the United States, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday. By <a href="/profiles/melissa-mahtani">Melissa Mahtani</a>, <a href="/profiles/meg-wagner">Meg Wagner</a>, <a href="/profiles/veronica-rocha">Veronica Rocha</a>, Mike Hayes and Melissa Macaya, CNN CNN

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A new variant spreading in the UK could be 10% more infectious than Delta

Tue, 2021-10-19 10:05 — mike kraft

Scientists are closely tracking a new variant spreading in the UK that could be 10% more infectious than Delta The new variant, AY.4.2, is descendant of the Delta variant. Cases are low outside the UK, and we don't if its mutations change its behaviour. Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce YahooNews

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OVERVIEW: Australia outbreaks level off, other countries trying to buy Merck pill

Mon, 2021-10-04 12:05 — mike kraft

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now: Reuters Reuters

-- Australia's Delta outbreak appears to have levelled off, with more than half the country in extended lockdowns and vaccination rates starting to approach national targets, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Monday.

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Studies indicate that the Coronavirus May Be Getting Better at Airborne Transmission

Fri, 2021-10-01 19:58 — mike kraft

Newer variants of the coronavirus like Alpha and Delta are highly contagious, infecting far more people than the original virus. Two new studies offer a possible explanation: The virus is evolving to spread more efficiently through air.

The realization that the coronavirus is airborne indoors transformed efforts to contain the pandemic last year, igniting fiery debates about masks, social distancing and ventilation in public spaces.

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Mu coronavirus variant appears to stop spreading in US

Thu, 2021-09-30 12:44 — mike kraft

Mu coronavirus variant appears to stop spreading in US The mu variant of COVID-19 appears to no longer be spreading in the United States. Virginia Aabram YahooNews

The mu variant of COVID-19 appears to no longer be spreading in the United States.

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WHO Seeks to Revive Stalled Inquiry into COVID-19 Origins

Mon, 2021-09-27 11:54 — mike kraft

CNS The Soufan Group Morning Brief Sent out each weekday, The CNS Soufan Group Morning Brief offers a roundup of the most important current events stories related to national security.

The World Health Organization is reviving its stalled investigation into the origins of COVID-19 with a new team of about 20 scientists. The team—including specialists in laboratory safety and biosecurity and geneticists and animal-disease experts versed in how viruses spill over from nature—is being assembled with a mandate to find new evidence in China and elsewhere. The possibilities that the new team is charged with examining include whether the COVID-19 virus could have emerged from a lab, according to WHO officials.

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