miércoles, 12 de enero de 2022

Where Do COVID Variants Come From?

I talk about COVID a lot but rarely do I geek out about the biology behind its mutations.
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By Stephanie Cornwell, Editorial Assistant
I talk about COVID a lot but rarely do I geek out about the biology behind its mutations. So today, we will have the talk: Where do COVID variants come from?
Today's Top Story
Biology Class Is in Session
We learned in biology that viruses, by nature, mutate to become stronger. Since December 2020, the WHO has named five COVID-19 variants as Variants of Concern (VOC): Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron.
 
But how does the virus mutate? COVID cannot transmit without a host. Research suggests that variants may arise in infected, immunocompromised people as they risk longer-lasting infections. This is because the longer you're infected, the more time the virus has to replicate and mutate.
 
Viral mutations can occur at a low frequency during infection, but not all mutations lead to a new VOC.
 
Pavitra Roychoudhury, PhD, MSc, an instructor at the department of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington, says that while a viral mutation can occur at a low frequency, it needs to make up the majority of a string of proteins called the "consensus genome" in order to become a VOC.
 
I like to think of two strains playing tug-of-war. Whichever strain has more advantageous mutations will take over.
Know More
Even at a low frequency, a variant can be transmitted to another host. Antivirals could help immunocompromised people fight off COVID-19 and reduce the time in which a variant has the chance to replicate.
Feel Better
There are likely thousands of viral mutations that are not harmful to us, and our immune system may be evolving to fight off variants. Not all mutations lead to a new VOC.
READ MORE
Weight Loss Shouldn't Be Your 2022 Health Goal. Try These Instead
Weight loss is one of the most common New Year's resolutions. If your goal is to live a healthier lifestyle, your focus should be less on the number on the scale and more on giving your body what it needs. Social pressure to attain a one-size-fits-all look does not reflect our body's natural shape and size. It's essential to recognize the intention in your health goals, listen to how your body feels, and create habits accordingly.
READ MORE
Surprising Benefits of Having ADHD
A diagnosis of ADHD is not always a negative thing. ADHD comes with many potential pros or "superpowers," such as high energy, self-awareness, resiliency, and creativity. While there are problematic aspects of ADHD, such as attention problems and hyperactivity, medication and therapy can mitigate them.
READ MORE
 
 
In an interview with Verywell, pediatrician Adrianna Bravo, MD, FAAP, explains how rapid antigen tests are a great tool for surveillance of the virus.
If you've done something high risk—such as a big gathering—you can start taking the test two to three days later at home, and then testing 24 hours after that to ensure you haven't picked up something.
Adrianna Bravo, MD, FAAP,
Pediatrician, and senior medical advisor for Inspire Diagnostics
 
In Other News
  You Can't Simply Decide to Be a Different Person. The Atlantic
 
  How Seven People Spent Their Money When They Didn't Have to Pay Student Loans. Vox
 
  Here's How Climate Change and Covid are Transforming Skiing. The New York Times
More From Verywell
Why COVID-19 Tests Don't Tell You Which Variant You May Have
READ MORE
Are More COVID-19 Variants Coming?
READ MORE
Omicron and Testing: Is the New Variant Slipping Through the Cracks?
READ MORE
 
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