Mutated SARS-CoV-2 virus found in Asia

The new mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus called G614 has almost completely replaced the first version named D614, making it the most dominant coronavirus strain circulating worldwide. The variation affects the spike protein or the structure that the virus uses to get into the cells it infects, Report says, citing Lenta.ru

“Although this information confirms the presence of G614 in the Philippines, we note that all the samples tested were from Quezon City and may not represent the mutational landscape for the whole country,” it added.

This mutation changes the amino acid at position 614, from D (aspartic acid) to G (glycine) — thus the D614G mutation name. Meaning, the initial D614 is now the G614 variant.

In a July study published in the scientific journal Cell, experts found out that patients infected with the G614 variant had a higher viral load than those affected with D614. Still, it does not appear to be more deadly, nor does it seem to increase the disease severity.

“However, there is still no definitive evidence showing that carriers of the G614 variant are more transmissible than those with D614. The mutation does not appear to affect clinical outcomes as well substantially,” the Philippine Genome Center explained.