There are currently 300+ different genetic versions of #coronavirus. Here's my take on a new study that investigates if they multiply at different rates, at a way to help explain regional & individual differences in #COVID19 ... tinyurl.com/y7bgzvse
Summary: scientists from Zhejiang University studies 11 strains of SARS-CoV-2, from early in the pandemic. They identified mutations, mapped them to protein structures, tested how the #coronavirus multiplied in & killed cells, & compared to patient outcomes... 2/ #COVID19
19 of the 31 identified mutations were novel, despite the relatively early sampling dates, indicating that the true diversity of the viral strains is still largely underappreciated. That's an interesting finding right there... 3/ #COVID2019 
Remarkably, two independent mutations have resulted in the same amino acid change in the spike protein (S247R), changing a flexible loop adjacent to where ACE2 binds. This could be random chance, but unlikely. Selection pressure maybe... 4/
The viral 'strains' were slow, medium or fast growers in cells. In the fast group was one was a triple mutation (#11), which came from a patient who remained #coronavirus-positive for 45 days & was only recently discharged from the hospital... 5/ Thanks @spwells for original TW.
The study indicates that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have the potential to impact viral pathogenicity. We need more genomes to know if these, or other mutations, could help explain regional and individual differences in #COVID19 ... Here's the study: tinyurl.com/yaur9a52 6/
Drawbacks of the study include:
1. The study only had access to a subset of mutants,
2. They grew the cells in Green Monkey Kidney cells, not human epithelial cells,
3. Cells in dishes aren't people, e.g. they don't have immune systems, etc.
Otherwise, a decent start...7/7
1. The study only had access to a subset of mutants,
2. They grew the cells in Green Monkey Kidney cells, not human epithelial cells,
3. Cells in dishes aren't people, e.g. they don't have immune systems, etc.
Otherwise, a decent start...7/7
