Mutations

New Varient in Brazil causes concern, infected previous COVID-19 victims

Tue, 2021-03-02 10:03 — mike kraft

In just a matter of weeks, two variants of the coronavirus have become so familiar that you can hear their inscrutable alphanumeric names regularly uttered on television news.

B.1.1.7, first identified in Britain, has demonstrated the power to spread far and fast. In South Africa, a mutant called B.1.351 can dodge human antibodies, blunting the effectiveness of some vaccines.

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Russians say its Sputnik V vaccines performs well against COVID mutations

Sat, 2021-02-27 14:04 — mike kraft

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian trial testing the effectiveness of revaccination with the Sputnik V shot to protect against new mutations of the coronavirus is producing strong results, researchers said on Saturday.

Last month President Vladimir Putin ordered a review by March 15 of Russian-produced vaccines for their effectiveness against new variants spreading in different parts of the world.

“(A) recent study carried out by the Gamaleya Centre in Russia showed that revaccination with Sputnik V vaccine is working very well against new coronavirus mutations, including the UK and South African strains of coronavirus,” said Denis Logunov, a deputy director of the centre, which developed the Sputnik V shot.

Results of the trial are expected to be published soon, but this was the first indication of how the tests are going. No further details were available yet.

So-called viral vector shots - such as Sputnik V and a shot developed by AstraZeneca - use harmless modified viruses as vehicles, or vectors, to carry genetic information that helps the body build immunity against future infections. ...

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ANALYSIS: There is a chance to stop the coronavirus from making a big comeback after recent decline

Fri, 2021-02-26 13:39 — mike kraft

Across the United States, and the world, the coronavirus seems to be loosening its stranglehold. The deadly curve of cases, hospitalizations and deaths has yo-yoed before, but never has it plunged so steeply and so fast.

Is this it, then? Is this the beginning of the end? After a year of being pummeled by grim statistics and scolded for wanting human contact, many Americans feel a long-promised deliverance is at hand.

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Pfizer to study using booster shot aimed at virus variant

Thu, 2021-02-25 11:32 — mike kraft

Pfizer to study booster shot aimed at virus variant Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said Thursday they are beginning a stu Peter Sullivan TheHill

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said Thursday they are beginning a study to test whether a third shot of their COVID-19 vaccine will help protect against variants of the virus.

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New coronavirus variant found in New York City

Thu, 2021-02-25 09:17 — mike kraft

Researchers find worrying new coronavirus variant in New York City Two separate teams of researchers have found a worrying new coronavirus variant in New York City that carries mutations that help it evade the body's natural immune response -- as well as the effects of monoclonal antibody treatments. Maggie Fox, CNN CNN

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Variant-fuels Covid-19 surge could come in weeks, but cases may decrease by summer - CNN

Wed, 2021-02-24 09:40 — mike kraft

Experts worry variant-fueled surge of Covid-19 could be weeks away but cases will likely fall again by summer Coronavirus infections across the US are still on the way down, and more Americans are getting vaccinated -- but variants could cause complications soon. Christina Maxouris, CNN CNN

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New coronavirus mutant found in California is more contagious

Wed, 2021-02-24 09:23 — mike kraft

What we know about California COVID variant B.1.427/ B.1.429 Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, say it should be listed as a "variant of concern." Newsweek

A new coronavirus variant that was first identified in California is now taking hold in some parts of the state—but what do we currently know about it?

The variant actually comes in two forms, known as B.1.427 and B.1.429, both of which carry a similar, albeit slightly differing, set of genetic mutations—including three that affect the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

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FDA new guidance: Vaccines Adapted for Variants Will Not Need Lengthy Testing

Tue, 2021-02-23 10:04 — mike kraft

The Food and Drug Administration said on Monday that vaccine developers would not need to conduct lengthy randomized controlled trials for vaccines that have been adapted to protect against concerning coronavirus variants.

The recommendations, which call for small trials more like those required for annual flu vaccines, would greatly accelerate the review process at a time when scientists are increasingly anxious about how the variants might slow or reverse progress made against the virus.

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