Mutation cloud on vaccine development plan

Two novel coronavirus strains, one a variant of the original, were detected in a patient in Iceland, making him possibly the first "double-virus infection" case in the world.

An Icelandic genetic research company discovered 40 variants of the novel coronavirus by sequencing the genes of confirmed cases in the country.

The double-virus infection indicates the novel coronavirus might be mutating, but whether its toxicity and contagiousness will increase needs further study. However, the change suggests greater challenges ahead in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

The transmission of the novel coronavirus to humans is a long process. The virus needs to mutate in its natural carriers, such as bats or pangolins, and then through intermediate carriers such as civets before infecting humans. However, the discovery of two different subtypes of the virus indicates the rate of the virus's mutation has accelerated.

The biological feature of a virus determines its rate of mutation. Living organisms have DNA as genetic material; the novel coronavirus has RNA and mutates faster than other viruses.

Multiple genes control the contagiousness of a virus and its harm to carriers, so only a joint mutation of multiple genes can increase a virus' toxicity. That takes longer than months and even years. So, the Iceland patient's must be a case of one gene mutating, but whether it will be more harmful to humans is yet to be confirmed.

However, the virus's mutation will create obstacles to the development of vaccines or drugs; the mutated virus being resistant to a drug effective against the original strain can survive and re-infect other people, resulting in adverse or prolonged treatment of the patients. That underscores the need for greater plans in the development of vaccines and drugs to cope with the possible mutation of the novel coronavirus.

- BEIJING NEWS