D614G mutation—molecular structure of the #SARSCoV2 spike protein with the D614G mutation, which allows it to attach to cells easier. Although it’s a mutation compared to Wuhan 1.0, this is already the predominant “common” version being replaced by #B117. pnas.org/content/pnas/1…
2) The spike protein is found on the surface of the virus and is responsible for its ability to attach to and invade human cells. The D614G mutation first appeared in Summer 2020 and the strain with this mutation quickly became dominant around the world.
3) The researchers found that this mutation changes the structure of the spike protein, allowing it to more readily attach to cells.
4) We had suspected variant with D614G was more contagious for a while. And again; this is now already the common circulating type that is now being further displaced by #B117 UK variant. B117 is more contagious than the D614G contagious variant. Crazy.

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More from @DrEricDing

17 Feb
There are a TON of fake N95 and KN95 masks on the internet. You need to learn how to spot. See if reviews seem authentic or not. See if weird listing characters. Buy from manufacturer or from ⁦@projectn95⁩ that verifies all sources. #COVID19 #MaskUp nytimes.com/2021/02/17/tec…
2) Either double mask (at least 1 surgical mask or better), or switch to premium mask. There is just a lot of fakes to beware of.
3) There are fewer fake surgical masks. But double masking need optimally for surgical masks + another mask.
Read 4 tweets
17 Feb
Did you know that twitter lets any crazy person share any batshit crazy thing?

This is BS. #MaskUp #doublemask #COVID19 Image
2) Please double mask if others around you don’t wear a mask. And maybe consider switching to a premium mask.
3) Consider a premium mask. Please. #B117 too contagious to take risks.
Read 5 tweets
17 Feb
GOOD news—if you have certain Neanderthal DNA 🧬 & get #COVID19. People with certain Neanderthal genes on chromosome 12 have lower rates of ICU. This region encodes proteins that activate enzymes that are important during infections with RNA viruses.
pnas.org/content/118/9/… Image
2) That said, another Neanderthal gene is bad. “Recently, it was shown that a haplotype in a region on chromosome 3 is associated with becoming critically ill upon infection with #SARSCoV2 and was contributed to modern humans by Neanderthals”.
3) For this new finding, “a haplotype on chromosome 12, which is associated with a ∼22% reduction in relative risk of becoming severely ill with #COVID19, is inherited from Neandertals. This haplotype is present at substantial frequencies in all regions of 🌎 outside Africa.”
Read 19 tweets
17 Feb
Texas still in crisis mode. And @ERCOT_ISO is still “load shedding” — a euphemism for cutting power via rollout blackouts. The problem is still systemic across Texas. Keep up to date on this site.

#TexasBlackout #texaspoweroutage #Texas
poweroutage.us/area/state/tex… Image
Read 4 tweets
17 Feb
What sent Texas reeling is not an engineering problem, nor frozen wind turbines. It is a structure that offers no incentives to prepare for winter. In the name of deregulation and free markets— electric grid that puts cheap prices over reliable service. 🧵
washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/0… Image
2) It’s a “Wild West market design based only on short-run prices,” said a portfolio manager, Matt Breidert. The temporary train wreck has seen the wholesale price of electricity in Houston go from $22 a megawatt-hour to about $9,000, while 4 mil Texans have been without power.
3) “One utility company, Griddy, which sells power at wholesale rates to retail customers without locking in a price in advance, told its patrons Tuesday to find another provider before they get socked with tremendous bills.” washingtonpost.com/business/2021/…
Read 16 tweets
17 Feb
TEXAS LEADERS FAILED—power outages raise fears that herds could run short of food and water. Some farmers are being forced to dump tankers of milk on fields because it can’t be processed, & livestock maybe euthanized if no water or food. #texaspoweroutage wsj.com/articles/texas… Image
2) “No feed, no water, and no heat doesn’t make for a good situation,” said Texas agriculture commissioner. Some areas had gone without power for >30 hours straight—while fielding calls from cattlemen losing calves to the cold & poultry farmers struggling with frozen water pipes.
3) Sanderson Farms Inc., one of the biggest U.S. chicken companies, estimated that as many as 200 of its approximately 1,900 Texas chicken houses were without power, & dozens have ruptured or frozen water pipes. Mills are struggling to make animal feed without access to power
Read 9 tweets

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