4 ms·

I am going to go against the grain here and ask someone more knowledgeable than myself if the large number of changes in this variant is typical in virus evolut

I am going to go against the grain here and ask someone more knowledgeable than myself if the large number of changes in this variant is typical in virus evolution? Because as an outsider, it appears to me that studying the history of past pandemics would present a road map as to what must be modified to attenuate the damage potential in a virus. I suppose my question really is, why are we chancing GOF research, if not to use in this situation?

Sitio 5y ago
What do you mean by studying past pandemics? We did not had that many and I'm not sure but I assume COVID is one of the most studied ones. Due to our modern technology and the high capital damage. Certain predictions were expected through pref pandemics like expecting COVID becoming 'normal' like the common cold.
wonnage 5y ago
Influenza viruses mutate enough to require new vaccines every year, coronaviruses tend to mutate less frequently but this is offset by the number of hosts with Covid
- beebmam 5y ago
  There are currently trials in the US for a universal influenza vaccine which will counter most possible mutations of the influenza virus: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-clinical-trial-universal-influenza-vaccine-candidate https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-c...
beebmam 5y ago
Thank you for your question. There are virologists and immunologists currently exploring the mutation-space of SARS-CoV-2 for nearly all potential mutations that produce a viable virus capable of infecting human cells. Based on that mutation-space, they're trying to determine if a vaccine regime can exist which can counter all possible mutations of SARS-CoV-2. So far, it looks like it's possible. Here's a presentation about the work being done at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIcaSqQFrX0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIcaSqQFrX0
- eadmund 5y ago
  > There are virologists and immunologists currently exploring the mutation-space of SARS-CoV-2 for nearly all potential mutations that produce a viable virus capable of infecting human cells. Based on that mutation-space, they're trying to determine if a vaccine regime can exist which can counter all possible mutations of SARS-CoV-2. So far, it looks like it's possible. Well, that would be just awesome! Any chance for similar pan-effective vaccines for other viruses? It would be pretty cool if COVID-19 ended up having the silver lining of enabling a step-function improvement in vaccine technology.
AustinDev 5y ago
What I'm curious about is if the "leaky" vaccines are actually the cause for the amount of mutation we've seen in Covid in 2 years. Variants seemed to accelerate after vaccine rollout began but, I'm not remotely qualified to say they're related.
- ThatGeoGuy 5y ago
  It doesn't seem likely. Vaccines were mostly rolled out in the west (read: United States), whereas the initial variants (alpha and delta) were a result of COVID proliferation in unvaccinated areas. Delta, for example, first really blew up in India. It is important to not forget the little details, and to avoid speculations based on broad statements (e.g. the vaccines "rolled out" and we got "more variants"). The vaccines started rolling out to very specific locations and we got variants everywhere.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
cknoxrun 5y ago
Your question caused a likely ludicrous and unoriginal idea to pop into my head - I wonder if it would be possible to purposefully engineer and release a mutated form of a virus like SARS-CoV-2 that demonstrates the ability to replace more dangerous strains, but causes only mild symptoms? Essentially to accelerate a process that we hope to see happen naturally.
- paddez 5y ago
  I guess, that's ultimately the idea of vaccines.
- snidane 5y ago
  Dangerous game that is. Covid vaccines are essentially what you propose, but without the natural ability to spread. Designed to be without side effects, turns out not to be so much without side effects Only time will tell.
- F6F6FA 5y ago
  WIV was studying bat-vaccine viruses: release the vaccine in a population and let infection do the rest. Wuhan variant, shows a mortality of around 10% (all the miners died, and healthy doctor, who was silenced then martyred, also died). Branch after Wuhan quarantines in Italy was mixed S and L variant. Mortality of around 1% after settling. Xi-Omicron variant now seems around 0.1%. Would a country with a more advanced biodefense release such a counter virus if it had the option? Perhaps if the damage to the economy and international relations became too grave. Then again, Spanish Flu also lasted 3 years and ended with an endemic virus. Maybe we just waited for nature to engineer this, while trying to speed up opening up for the economy, having young people vaccinate to protect the rich and elderly, and a few years worth of mRNA data volunteered/mandated by the public.

Sitio 5y ago

What do you mean by studying past pandemics? We did not had that many and I'm not sure but I assume COVID is one of the most studied ones. Due to our modern technology and the high capital damage. Certain predictions were expected through pref pandemics like expecting COVID becoming 'normal' like the common cold.

wonnage 5y ago

Influenza viruses mutate enough to require new vaccines every year, coronaviruses tend to mutate less frequently but this is offset by the number of hosts with Covid

beebmam 5y ago
There are currently trials in the US for a universal influenza vaccine which will counter most possible mutations of the influenza virus: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-clinical-trial-universal-influenza-vaccine-candidate https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-c...

beebmam 5y ago

Thank you for your question. There are virologists and immunologists currently exploring the mutation-space of SARS-CoV-2 for nearly all potential mutations that produce a viable virus capable of infecting human cells. Based on that mutation-space, they're trying to determine if a vaccine regime can exist which can counter all possible mutations of SARS-CoV-2. So far, it looks like it's possible. Here's a presentation about the work being done at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIcaSqQFrX0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIcaSqQFrX0

eadmund 5y ago
> There are virologists and immunologists currently exploring the mutation-space of SARS-CoV-2 for nearly all potential mutations that produce a viable virus capable of infecting human cells. Based on that mutation-space, they're trying to determine if a vaccine regime can exist which can counter all possible mutations of SARS-CoV-2. So far, it looks like it's possible. Well, that would be just awesome! Any chance for similar pan-effective vaccines for other viruses? It would be pretty cool if COVID-19 ended up having the silver lining of enabling a step-function improvement in vaccine technology.

AustinDev 5y ago

What I'm curious about is if the "leaky" vaccines are actually the cause for the amount of mutation we've seen in Covid in 2 years. Variants seemed to accelerate after vaccine rollout began but, I'm not remotely qualified to say they're related.

ThatGeoGuy 5y ago
It doesn't seem likely. Vaccines were mostly rolled out in the west (read: United States), whereas the initial variants (alpha and delta) were a result of COVID proliferation in unvaccinated areas. Delta, for example, first really blew up in India. It is important to not forget the little details, and to avoid speculations based on broad statements (e.g. the vaccines "rolled out" and we got "more variants"). The vaccines started rolling out to very specific locations and we got variants everywhere.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

cknoxrun 5y ago

Your question caused a likely ludicrous and unoriginal idea to pop into my head - I wonder if it would be possible to purposefully engineer and release a mutated form of a virus like SARS-CoV-2 that demonstrates the ability to replace more dangerous strains, but causes only mild symptoms? Essentially to accelerate a process that we hope to see happen naturally.

paddez 5y ago
I guess, that's ultimately the idea of vaccines.
snidane 5y ago
Dangerous game that is. Covid vaccines are essentially what you propose, but without the natural ability to spread. Designed to be without side effects, turns out not to be so much without side effects Only time will tell.
F6F6FA 5y ago
WIV was studying bat-vaccine viruses: release the vaccine in a population and let infection do the rest. Wuhan variant, shows a mortality of around 10% (all the miners died, and healthy doctor, who was silenced then martyred, also died). Branch after Wuhan quarantines in Italy was mixed S and L variant. Mortality of around 1% after settling. Xi-Omicron variant now seems around 0.1%. Would a country with a more advanced biodefense release such a counter virus if it had the option? Perhaps if the damage to the economy and international relations became too grave. Then again, Spanish Flu also lasted 3 years and ended with an endemic virus. Maybe we just waited for nature to engineer this, while trying to speed up opening up for the economy, having young people vaccinate to protect the rich and elderly, and a few years worth of mRNA data volunteered/mandated by the public.