Here's why Chinese scientists say there's a second, more dangerous coronavirus strain

[brooklynite]

Source: Los Angeles Times

The global outbreak that has sickened nearly 100,000 people across six continents may actually be fueled by two variants of the same coronavirus: one older and less aggressive and a newer version whose mutations may have made it more contagious and more deadly, according to a controversial new study.

Chinese scientists who compared the genetic sequences of 103 viral samples from patients infected with COVID-19 said their evidence suggests that the virulent version of the coronavirus — which they tagged the “L-type” version — was the dominant strain in the earliest phase of the outbreak that began in Wuhan late last year. That strain, they said, appeared to recede as the epidemic progressed.

But among samples collected later, as COVID-19 spread across China and into other countries, a variant of the virus they dubbed the “S-type” was more common, the scientists reported. They suggested that the genetic makeup of the S version more closely resembles coronaviruses circulating in bats and pangolins, the animals that are thought to have incubated the virus before it jumped to humans. And they surmised that it is a less virulent version.

The findings suggest the S-type version of the coronavirus may have escaped its animal hosts earlier than previously believed — and that it may have been circulating longer without causing enough illness to set off alarm bells.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-05/chinese-scientists-say-second-coronavirus-strain-more-dangerous

[Blues Heron]

1. OK let me get this straight older, milder version is "S"

newer, but already peaked and now receding more virulent strain is"L" ?

[Journeyman]

3. Yes, working our way to its most virulent strain, "F" . . .

as in, we are so "F'd".

[msongs]

2. revenge of the pangolins? nt

[highplainsdem]

4. Oh, hell. So it's already mutated once to become more contagious and deadly. Does that

mean future mutations making it even worse are more likely?

And will the mutations make both testing and vaccine development (not to mention treatment) much more difficult?

[JudyM]

7. Good questions. Depends on what type of vaccine(s) are developed.

From what has been published, there are multiple potential vaccine targets, with different research benches delving into these various options. One might be broad enough to keep on it as it morphs, if it maintains the characteristic that that particular vaccine addresses. This is another value of coming at it from multiple fronts, and not only for CoV-2, but for future Coronaviruses that may surface. Would be good to get a bit ahead of the game here.

[defacto7]

5. The stats I read 2 days ago stated this very thing

except it was the other way around. The first was worse than the second.. I don't know which version is correct. Time to dig I guess.
If the first was worse it would coincide with the early death rates that were so high and later ones that were less severe. But I don't know. The article seems legit.

[JudyM]

6. Seems that's what this is saying.

The S version, according to this, has been around longer even though it was the second to be noticed, only after the flashing light spread of the newer, L version.

[defacto7]

10. Ok, I get it. Thanks.

[Blues Heron]

8. my reading is the first was mild and undetected, then the second more virulent one

started raging and the whole thing broke on the news, then that peaked and we're now back to mostly the milder, earlier one but both are still circulating? 70/30 mild/virulent?

[defacto7]

9. Ok, that makes sense.

[greymattermom]

11. One possibly positive discovery

is that both the cellular receptor for COVID-19 and the intracellular protease required for activating it can be targeted by already existing drugs. Possibly a combined use of losartin and mesylate will be an effective treatment.

[Talitha]

12. So this almost looks encouraging?

Instead of 100% of the cases being nastybad, only 30% are?

[Blues Heron]

13. Headline should be there's a WEAKER less dangerous strain.

Seems like they got it backwards

[kiri]

14. Every virus and pathogen has as its biological goal to perpetuate itself.

Every virus and pathogen has as its biological goal to perpetuate itself. Viruses do this by penetrating the cell and forcing it to make copies of itself. The cell then usually ruptures and dies, spilling oodles of new virus particles out to infect new cells.

The existentialist dilemma is: If the virus is too toxic, the organism dies before much duplication can occur. If the pathogen is too slow to cause death, the immune system has a chance to develop a strong defense, which hinders its propagation.

Thus the 'ideal' pathogen does not kill its victims quickly, but waits until its survival is assured via its copies. After sufficient virulence, the pathogen 'cares' no longer about the fate of the victim.