The new coronavirus has mutated thousands of times. Mutating is normal. That's just what viruses do. The bigger question is whether any of those mutations are significant — has the virus changed in some way that affects how we try to control or treat it? Recently, researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory posited that at least one variant of SARS-CoV-2 had mutated in just such a way. They suggested that the mutation might not only be more contagious, but also occur in a part of the virus that could hamper efforts to develop a vaccine. The research, which was published prior to peer review, caused an uproar. The data, critics said, simply didn't support such a bold claim. They argued the paper's language sensationalized the actual findings. But the potential for such a significant mutation remains—and the Los Alamos study points to one plausible candidate. Researchers combed through a global database of SARS-CoV-2 variants and found one that stood out. It seemed to dominate quickly as the virus spread throughout Europe. And one of the mutations in that variant occurred in a key part of the virus: the spiky proteins that the virus used to attach to host cells. Much more data is needed to assess the threat of this mutation. Drugmakers for now say they are unconcerned. But scientists remain on the lookout for genetic changes that alter the way the virus operates. "What we're claiming is that this mutation needs to be studied aggressively, quickly," said David Montefiori, a Duke University virologist and author of the Los Alamos study. "We're not trying to blow things out of proportion."—Kristen V. Brown | 
♯⊗⋮ 2020 Noticias del Gran Mundo PelÃcula Completa En LÃnea released 2020. story: Cinco años después del fin de la Guerra Civil estadounid...
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