The study at the lab that first identified the omicron strain, indicates that the COVID-19 pathogen could continue to mutate and a new variant may cause more severe illness.
A South African laboratory study using COVID-19 samples from an immunosuppressed individual over six months showed that the virus evolved to become more pathogenic, indicating that a new variant could cause more illness than theThe study, conducted by the same laboratory that was to first test the omicron strain against vaccines last year, used samples from a person infected with HIV.
Over the six months, the virus initially caused the same level of cell fusion and death as the omicron BA.1 strain, but as it evolved those levels rose to become similar to the first version ofThe study, led by Alex Sigal at the Africa Health Research Institute in the South African city of Durban, indicates that the COVID-19 pathogen could continue to mutate and a new variant may cause more severe illness and death than the relatively mild omicron strain.
Sigal and other scientists have previously postulated that variants such as beta and omicron -- both initially identified in southern Africa -- may have evolved in immunosuppressed people such as those infected with HIV. The long time it takes for these individuals to shake off the disease allows it to mutate and become better at evading antibodies, they have said.
The study “may indicate that SARS-CoV-2 evolution in long-term infection does not have to result in attenuation,” the researchers said in their findings, which were released on November 24. “It may indicate that a future variant could be more pathogenic than currently circulating omicron strains.”
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations rise across statesCOVID-19 cases have jumped again across multiple states in the past seven days as Australia faces its fourth wave of the virus. 9News
Read more »
Media ‘barely’ mentioned Andrews government’s ‘incompetent’ COVID-19 handlingThe media has failed to make the Andrews government's 'incompetent' handling of COVID-19 the centre of the Victorian state election campaign, according to Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton. Victorians will head to the polls on Saturday to vote in the state election with Premier Daniel Andrews set to face off against Opposition Leader Matthew Guy. 'Melbourne was the most locked-down city in the world and decisions made to strip people of their civil liberties were not made because of science, but politics,' Mr Houghton said. 'Lazy and incompetent politicians who ignored the World Health Organisation's advice to use lockdowns only as a last resort to bolster health resources, have spent this campaign patting themselves on the back. 'Knowing what we know now, you would think the media would have turned this campaign into a referendum on the Andrews government's handling of COVID-19. 'Most days it barely raised a mention and instead voters were briefed daily on scandals with previously unknown politicians on topics such as race and religion.'
Read more »
COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations rise across statesCOVID-19 cases have jumped again across multiple states in the past seven days as Australia faces its fourth wave of the virus. 9News
Read more »
Bushfires, COVID, rain and more rain: Can music festivals survive another year of uncertainty?Heavy rainfall, flooding and wind gusts have forced multiple festivals to cancel or postpone in recent months, and organisers are wary of another summer of La Niña.
Read more »
Panic buying hits Beijing amid lockdown rumours as COVID cases surgeGrocery stores in parts of China's capital have had their shelves emptied as the city government speeds up construction of quarantine centres and field hospitals.
Read more »
Cruise turns back to Australia, abandons Bali leg after COVID outbreakIndonesian authorities have requested that an Australian cruise ship carrying about 2100 passengers and crew abandon the Balinese leg of its 17-day tour, following a COVID-19 outbreak on board | HatAlexander
Read more »