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How is the progression of SARS-CoV-2 different from that of every other endemic virus, and how have our vaccine distributions affected its evolution? Very neat

How is the progression of SARS-CoV-2 different from that of every other endemic virus, and how have our vaccine distributions affected its evolution? Very neat article. For instance, are there other viruses which were devastating when they first hit a species, only to evolve to less devastating but eternal as the species collectively gets perhaps not herd immunity but herd resistance?

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
addicted 5y ago
Isn’t this article basically discussing that? Looking at how other viruses have behaved and trying to analyze how COVID-19 may also potentially behave going forward, if it were to take the route of those other viruses?
- jjtheblunt 5y ago
  Yes, definitely I should have worded my comment more clearly.
crazydoggers 5y ago
Viral evolution is one of the primary factors around pretty much all virus progression and disease. It’s a major study in the field of epidemiology. Given that there’s still a lack of belief of evolution in the general public (polls put it around 40-50% in US) it’s not surprising that it’s not more talked about in the media. But in the scientific and medical community it was not even a question that the virus was going to evolve through multiple strains. Viral evolution is why we have yearly flu shots rather than 1 to cover a lifetime. Its also why HIV has been so hard to create a vaccine for. HIV is able to handle lots of mutations and still function, so it means there’s a multitude of strains. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_evolution https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_evolution
- telotortium 5y ago
  > Given that there’s still a lack of belief of evolution in the general public (polls put it around 40-50% in US) it’s not surprising that it’s not more talked about in the media. Lol - the intersection of people working in the media (especially mainstream media) and creationists is virtually the null set.
  - crazydoggers 5y ago
    If 50% of your market is offended by it you won’t talk about it. For media that caters to the other 50% it’s still a complex subject for media sound bites. Also you don’t have to be a “creationist” to not believe, although I guess it depends on that definition. But creationist makes it sound like it’s a tiny minority extremist group. Year after year multiple studies put non belief of evolution at at least 40%. I can almost guarantee a significant percentage of the media are likewise skeptical or non believers of evolution (they may be rather reserved and personal about it, but still effect their judgement or assessment of reporting on the topic)
- heartbreak 5y ago
  I don’t think “viral evolution” is a correct way to describe mutations during viral replication.
  - crazydoggers 5y ago
    That doesn’t even make sense. Mutations either will have no effect, or increase or decrease the viruses ability to spread and replicate. It’s basically the definition of evolution. On top of which viral genomes, especially RNA viruses, mutate at such a rapid rate, evolution occurs quickly.
  - nitrogen 5y ago
    Mutation + selection = evolution.
    - crazydoggers 5y ago
nradov 5y ago
That's probably what happened with HCoV-OC43, a betacoronavirus very similar to SARS-CoV-2. The evidence indicates that it caused a worldwide pandemic starting in 1889 and killed a lot of people. Now it's endemic. Most of us catch it when we're young and build up natural immunity. There doesn't appear to be much herd immunity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7252012/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7252012/
prox 5y ago
Flu ‘la grippe’ : 25000 people died a day in Paris in 1800 Spanish Flu of 1918 Several coronaviruses from cattle (can’t remember the exact name atm)

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

addicted 5y ago

Isn’t this article basically discussing that? Looking at how other viruses have behaved and trying to analyze how COVID-19 may also potentially behave going forward, if it were to take the route of those other viruses?

jjtheblunt 5y ago
Yes, definitely I should have worded my comment more clearly.

crazydoggers 5y ago

Viral evolution is one of the primary factors around pretty much all virus progression and disease. It’s a major study in the field of epidemiology. Given that there’s still a lack of belief of evolution in the general public (polls put it around 40-50% in US) it’s not surprising that it’s not more talked about in the media. But in the scientific and medical community it was not even a question that the virus was going to evolve through multiple strains. Viral evolution is why we have yearly flu shots rather than 1 to cover a lifetime. Its also why HIV has been so hard to create a vaccine for. HIV is able to handle lots of mutations and still function, so it means there’s a multitude of strains. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_evolution https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_evolution

telotortium 5y ago
> Given that there’s still a lack of belief of evolution in the general public (polls put it around 40-50% in US) it’s not surprising that it’s not more talked about in the media. Lol - the intersection of people working in the media (especially mainstream media) and creationists is virtually the null set.
- crazydoggers 5y ago
  If 50% of your market is offended by it you won’t talk about it. For media that caters to the other 50% it’s still a complex subject for media sound bites. Also you don’t have to be a “creationist” to not believe, although I guess it depends on that definition. But creationist makes it sound like it’s a tiny minority extremist group. Year after year multiple studies put non belief of evolution at at least 40%. I can almost guarantee a significant percentage of the media are likewise skeptical or non believers of evolution (they may be rather reserved and personal about it, but still effect their judgement or assessment of reporting on the topic)
heartbreak 5y ago
I don’t think “viral evolution” is a correct way to describe mutations during viral replication.
- crazydoggers 5y ago
  That doesn’t even make sense. Mutations either will have no effect, or increase or decrease the viruses ability to spread and replicate. It’s basically the definition of evolution. On top of which viral genomes, especially RNA viruses, mutate at such a rapid rate, evolution occurs quickly.
- nitrogen 5y ago
  Mutation + selection = evolution.
  - crazydoggers 5y ago

nradov 5y ago

That's probably what happened with HCoV-OC43, a betacoronavirus very similar to SARS-CoV-2. The evidence indicates that it caused a worldwide pandemic starting in 1889 and killed a lot of people. Now it's endemic. Most of us catch it when we're young and build up natural immunity. There doesn't appear to be much herd immunity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7252012/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7252012/

prox 5y ago

Flu ‘la grippe’ : 25000 people died a day in Paris in 1800 Spanish Flu of 1918 Several coronaviruses from cattle (can’t remember the exact name atm)