Early tests mean Covid-19 patients detected at ‘more infectious’ phase: Noor Hisham

‘Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said swift action to detect Covid-19 cases may have led to patients being detected at an earlier, highly infectious phase of the disease. However, he does not rule out the possibility that the high level of infectivity may be due to the virus’ D614G mutation. He said this in response to a question from the media asking why patients’ samples from the current third wave have a lower cycle threshold value (Ct) when tested, compared to samples from the first two waves of the outbreak in Malaysia.’

Read here (Malaysiakini, Oct 16, 2020)

The coronavirus is mutating — does it matter?

‘Different SARS-CoV-2 strains haven’t yet had a major impact on the course of the pandemic, but they might in future...

‘It’s even possible that the D614G change could make the virus an easier target for vaccines, Montefiori’s team found in a study posted to bioRxiv in July 13. Mice, monkeys and humans that received one of a number of experimental RNA vaccines, including one being developed by drug maker Pfizer in New York City, produced antibodies that proved more potent at blocking G viruses than D viruses.

‘With G viruses now ubiquitous, the finding is “good news”, says Montefiori. But as a scientist who has watched HIV mutate to elude many vaccines developed against it, he remains wary of the potential of SARS-CoV-2 to evade humanity’s responses. Luban agrees: “We need to keep our eyes open for additional changes.”

Read here (Nature, Sept 8, 2020)

Highly contagious Covid-19 variant detected in two clusters

‘Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has urged greater caution after a highly contagious variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 had been confirmed in two clusters in Malaysia.

‘In a Facebook post just past midnight this morning, the Institute of Medical Research had just identified the virus carrying the D614G mutation in samples collected from three cases from the Sivagangga cluster, and one case in the Bukit Tiram cluster...

“It has been found to be ten times more likely to infect other individuals, and could spread easily if spread by ‘superspreaders’,” Noor Hisham said.

‘He also voiced concern that experimental vaccines currently in development may not be able to tackle the D614G variant of the virus because it is still relatively new.’

Read here (Malaysiakini, August 16, 2020)

What the D614G mutation means for Covid-19 spread, fatality, treatment, and vaccine

‘We are facing the global shift of the SARS-CoV-2 variant — from D614 to G614. The G614 variant is more infectious in laboratory settings; whether it means increased viral spread in humans is unconfirmed. Current evidence says that the G614 variant is not any deadlier than D614. And so, treatment options should not be any more different. Both the D614 and G614 variants should react similarly to vaccines, studies suggest, as the mutation does not change the immunogenic part of the spike protein; that is, the receptor-binding domain (RBD).’

[This is a survey of literature by a young post-grad Malaysian. It gives a rounded picture of the D614G mutation without using too much jargon. Must counter check the accuracy of what's stated against the originals.] 

Read here (Medium, July 31, 2020)