Three new coronavirus variants: Chinese B-type, American A-type and European C-type

Today, according to British media reports, "the new coronavirus mutates into three different virus strains and spreads all over the world.

Researchers from Cambridge University and Germany reported the results in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They used gene network technology to reconstruct the early "evolutionary path" of new coronavirus in human body.

According to reports, researchers used virus genome data collected from all over the world from December 24, 2019 to March 4, 2020 to analyze the first batch of 160 complete virus genomes of Wuhan new crown virus infectors, mapped out the original transmission of new crown virus through its mutations, and found that these mutations produced different virus lineages, revealing three different New coronavirus variants, labeled a, B and C, respectively.

Among them, type A is the closest to the new coronavirus type found in bats and pangolins, which is believed to be the source of the new coronavirus outbreak.

Type B, the second mutation of type A virus, is the most common virus type in Wuhan. It has a slow mutation in China and a rapid mutation in countries and regions outside China.

Type C, the "daughter" of type B, was introduced into Europe through Singapore.

Detailed study:

Type C is the major European virus type found in early patients in France, Italy, Sweden and the UK.

Wuhan's main virus type "B" is prent in patients from all over East Asia.

Type A, as the source of virus outbreak, is not the main virus type in Wuhan, but it exists in a large number in the United States and Australia. In China, a large number of type A viruses are found in American people living in Wuhan.

The researchers say the C virus is the main European type found in early patients from France, Italy, Sweden and the UK. The type C virus did not appear in the Chinese mainland samples in the study, but was found in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea.

The analysis also showed that one of the earliest routes of introduction of the virus into Italy was through the first recorded German patient on January 27, and the other early Italian route of infection was related to "Singapore clustering".

The results show that type A virus is most closely related to the virus found in bats and pangolins, which the researchers describe as the source of the outbreak. Type B virus is derived from type A, separated by two mutations, and then type C, in turn, is the "daughter" of type B.

Foster said the virus had too many rapid mutations to track the entire covid-19 family tree. "But we use a mathematical network algorithm to visualize all plausible trees at the same time. What these techniques are best known for is the use of DNA to map prehistoric migration. We think it's the first time it's been used to track the infection of a coronavirus like covid-19. "

Experts warn that the new coronavirus is constantly mutating rapidly to adapt to immune system resistance in different populations.

Forster said their method could be applied to the sequencing of the latest coronavirus genome to help predict future hot spots in global disease transmission and surge.

Reprint from network
-------------------------
Disclaimer: the main purpose of reprinted content is to share information, we keep neutral on the statements and opinions in the text, and provide no express or implied guarantee for the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the content. If you think our authorization or source mark is inconsistent with the facts, or infringes the rights and interests of the original copyright author, please inform us in time, and we will delete it within 24 hours.