(Photo: CDC/Pexels)
Scientists from the Genovese Project announced Thursday that a study by the Brazilian coronavirus genetic sequencing project identified a mutation in a P.1 variant that converges to the more transmissible delta variant.
According to Genov, a genetic monitoring science project by the DASA Healthcare Network, 11 of the 1,380 samples analyzed by the project between May and June showed the P681H mutation, in which the amino acid proline is replaced by another, histidine.
“It’s called gamma plus, a convergent mutation with delta properties, and it’s the variant that usually presents this structural change,” Genov said in a statement about the discovery.
According to Genovese coordinator and Dasa virologist, Jose Eduardo Levy, this mutation from proline to histidine had already been observed in other variants in the world, including all variants of concern, but it was not very common in Gamma. “However, we have seen an increase in its incidence in Brazilian samples,” he said.
The delta variant, which originated in India, has become the dominant strain of coronavirus in the world and has been responsible for new outbreaks of Covid-19 in countries that have been under control, such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
However, in Brazil, the P.1 variant, which originated in Manaus, is still dominant. According to specialists, Delta may encounter some kind of hindrance to the progress of the country due to the strong presence of P.1, also known as Gama.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
