- Doctors from Brazil found an even more dangerous type of coronavirus infection, a double infection with two different strains.
- The researchers detailed two COVID-19 cases involving people in their mid-thirties infected with both the Brazilian mutation (P.2) and another strain circulating in Brazil.
- These co-infections can lead to the creation of additional mutations, the researchers said.
Tens of millions of people around the world have already received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and several million have gone through the full two-dose regimen. In addition, two other vaccine manufacturers have just announced positive Phase 3 results for additional vaccine candidates that could soon be approved for emergency use – the Novavax and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. But COVID-19 has changed too, just in time for vaccines. After all, the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates like any other microorganism.
The last weeks of 2020 brought news of two highly contagious mutant strains of coronavirus, including the UK (B.1.1.7) and South African (B.1.351) versions. In early January, news of a Brazilian tribe (P2 or B.1.1.28) dropped and governments around the world have begun to take steps to reduce the spread of these highly contagious variations. This includes additional genetic testing to understand how the new strains spread in their countries, leading some researchers to discover an even more dangerous coronavirus infection that could occur.
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The coronavirus has been mutating since the beginning. Some studies showed that the version that reached Europe and the US in March 2020 was more contagious than the one from Wuhan. Scientists have been monitoring mutations during the pandemic to understand how the virus evolves and to make sure vaccines would work. The Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna drugs are still effective against the British strain, while the South African strain could reduce their effectiveness. The Johnson & Johnson drug was tested in trials against the South African mutation and the company showed impressive efficacy against that strain.
With more researchers following the new mutations, it’s not surprising to learn that doctors in Brazil have identified two people infected with two different mutant strains of coronavirus at the same time. This is a worrying development, indicating that humans can pick up more than one tribe from their community, with each species able to multiply in the body in such a way that the two different versions would show up in genetic testing.
The Brazilian researchers published their findings in a study that was not peer-reviewed Reuters. The two patients in question were both in their 30s and tested positive for the P.2 mutation and another strain. Their symptoms were mild. One person developed a dry cough, while the other developed a cough, sore throat and headache. Neither person required hospitalization.
The research indicates that different variants of the same virus can co-exist in the same host, and this phenomenon can promote further mutations.
“These co-infections can generate combinations and generate new variants even faster than is the case,” said lead researcher Dr. Fernando Spilki. Reuters. “It would be a different evolutionary path for the virus.”
This may not be the first time that different strains of the virus have resided on the same host. It can be common in places where multiple versions of coronavirus are spreading within communities. Researchers are now conducting more genetic testing than before, while looking for the more concerning species. This, in turn, would increase the chances of discovering these duplicate infections.
It is unclear whether any of the British, South African or Brazilian mutations could have arisen from duplicate infections that went unnoticed. A few weeks ago, researchers in Italy found a local mutation that developed in an immunocompromised patient who tested positive for COVID-19 for several months. The researchers speculated that this mutation could be the precursor to the British strain, but couldn’t prove it.
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Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby and before he knew it, he shared his thoughts on tech matters with readers around the world. If he doesn’t write about gadgets, he sadly fails to stay away from them, although he desperately tries. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.