UK Variant COVID-19

Manish Kumar Balai

Nursing Tutor, College of Nursing, AIIMS, Jodhpur, 342005.

*Corresponding Author Email: manasvi.manish.29@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Virus has a nature of antigenic drift and shift so over time their genetic make-up changes through the mutation and emerged a new strain of virus. Six type of coronavirus are known to infect the human being till now. The latest one and seventh number coronavirus is COVID-19. Diseases caused by coronavirus ranging from common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). One more strain or mutant COVID-19 identified at UK in September 2020 and this strain is fast and quick spreading that is 70% more transmissible than the old strain. The first “Variant Under Investigation” in December -2020 in which most significant mutation known as N501Y change the protein spike (S) of the virus that is the receptor binding domain, used to bind the human ACE2 receptors. Five alarming warning signs of new strain of coronavirus are Breathing problem, Confusion, Persistent chest pain, Tired and unable to stay awake, Bluish lips or face. RT-PCR and genetic sequencing still reliable diagnostic method for new variant of corona. Control and prevention need to follow all guidelines which are following previously and till now many vaccines developed but scientist need more research and data for its efficacy on new variant of corona.

KEYWORDS: Drift, Shift, Mutation, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, COVID-19 UK variant.

INTRODUCTION:

Virus has a nature of antigenic drift and shift so over time their genetic make-up changes through the mutation and emerged a new strain of virus. These new strains of viruses sometimes emerged and disappear and sometimes exist and persist continuously¹. Recently in December 2019 a strain of coronavirus emerged at Wuhan City of China that is known as COVID-19. Coronavirus belong to a coronaviridae family of virus its name is due to crown like spike protein present on their surfaces. This virus also known as Wuhan virus and novel coronavirus-2019 (nCov-19). Rapidly it spread all over the world and WHO declared on 11 March 2020 as a Pandemic². According to CDC pandemic means when viruses “are able to infect people easily and spread from person to person in an efficient and sustained way” in multiple regions¹.

Six type of coronavirus are known to infect the human being till now. The latest one and seventh number coronavirus is COVID-19. Diseases caused by coronavirus ranging from common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). This is the zoonotic disease which is transfer from animals to human being³.

Coronavirus is A 120-160nm enveloped particle that contain unsegmented genome of single stranded positive sense RNA. The order of gene encoding the viral RNA- dependent RNA polymerase and the four common structural proteins, the spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins⁴.

The global spread of the CVOID-19 affects every individual life in all sectors there was frequent shutdown and lockdown in most infected countries, stopped transportation within country and flights banned from other countries so it’s a just like a health crisis².

New variant of COVID-19:

All counties fighting and trying to overcome with this virus infection by using numerous measures like lockdown, social distancing, safety measures, minimize overcrowding and scientist or health care workers are continuously working for development a vaccine and drugs.

Despite this is prevalent, one more strain or mutant COVID-19 identified at UK in September 2020 and this strain is fast and quick spreading that is 70% more transmissible than the old strain. Same mutation is noticed at South Africa and Netherland and Denmark country⁵.

Mutation:

Scientists have seen three major changes⁵

· D614 (Amino acid 614 on spike protein)

· VUI 2020-12/01

· N501Y

The first “Variant Under Investigation” in December - 2020 in which most significant mutation known as N501Y change the protein spike (S) of the virus that is the receptor binding domain, used to bind the human ACE2 receptors⁶. The deletions on spike protein B.1.1.7 identified particularly lineage of virus and it is also observed in chronic infections in which they alter the antigenicity- recognition by immune antibodies. These deletions are associated with the other binding region of protein and play role in virus ability to evade immune system in humans⁷.

Replication of corona virus:

It is transferring human to human through the respiratory secretions. Peoples are infectious for more period as it replicates faster in airways and it is more likely to transfer others. The spike (S) protein acts as a class1 fusion protein, it attached with host cell membrane and by receptors mediated endocytosis. Once RNA released into cytoplasm through the proteolytic process generate a RNA dependent RNA polymerase than it is translated from positive to negative stranded genomic RNA which acts as a template nested set of five to seven sub  genomic mRNAs and they give rise to structural viral proteins. S, E and M proteins combined with nucleocapsid and formation of mature virion and transported by Golgi apparatus to plasma membrane where they release by exocytosis⁴.

Indian scenario:

India first case of UK mutant virus was reported on 30 December 2020 when six travelers return from Britain tested for corona, till now total 102 cases were found positive for this new strain. India started tracing of co- traveler and family members of positive cases and who travel India and UK after the cases of new strain infection came to know⁸.

Sign and symptoms of new strain:

Beside the three important signs of COVID-19 i.e., fever, dry cough and loss of sense of smell and taste there are seven other symptoms are related with new strain of corona virus.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published five alarming warning signs of new strain of coronavirus.⁹

· Breathing problem

· Confusion

· Persistent chest pain

· Tired and unable to stay awake

· Bluish lips or face

Other symptoms are

· Fatigue

· Diarrhea

· Anorexia

· Muscle pain

· Headache

· Skin rashes

Diagnostic method:

This is good that the current RT-PCR (Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) able to detect RNA of mutant variant and the accuracy and sensitivity is not changed so there is no chance of false negative¹⁰.

Genetic sequencing is more reliable way of finding out if someone suffering from variant but it involves more laboratory work which is time consuming and costly also¹⁰.

Precautions and Control:

There is no need of any new prevention strategies we need to follow or continue COVID-19 safe guides like mask wearing, maintain physical and social distancing, practicing hand hygiene with soap and water, use of sanitizer frequently and avoid overcrowding situation¹¹. Indian Government banned the UK flights and started testing of UK returns passengers and keep them in quarantine and starting contact tracing of them.

Vaccine:

By the mid December -2020, 57 Corona vaccine developed from them 40 are in phase-I-II and 17 in phase III-IV among them several vaccines show the efficacy 95% in phases III. National regulatory authority permitted 6 vaccine for public use: two RNA vaccines (Tozinameran from Pfizer-Biotech and Mrna 1273 from Moderna), two conventional inactivated vaccines (BBIBP-CorV from Sinopharma and CoronaVac from Sinovac) and two viral vector vaccines (Gam COVID- Vac from Gamaleya Vac Research institute and AZD1222 from the university of oxford and AstraZeneca)¹². India indigenous COVAXIN vaccine for COVID-19 develop by Bharat Biotech with collaboration ICMR¹³ and Serum Institute of India tie up with oxford and AstraZeneca for manufacture COVISHIELD¹² vaccine but still in confusion that it is useful for new strain or not. Vaccine stimulates the broad antibodies response against to entire protein spike, so the efficacy of vaccine will not be hampered by mutations⁷.

Chief executive of BionTech says that vaccine will work for this variant also because the protein on variant are 99% same as the COVID-19 but more research studies and data needed for completely sure¹⁴.

DISCUSSION:

UK variant COVID-19 is a mutant strain of COVID-19 which is highly transmissible among human beings. It causes a disease ranging from common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). Sign and symptoms are similar to previous strain except confusion, chest pain and unable to stay awake. RT-PCR is still reliable method of identify this strain. Still no data available regarding the severity of this variant

CONCLUSION:

The world gradually overcoming from the pandemic COVID-19 by using the multidimensional approaches consisting frequent lockdown, maintaining social distancing, frequently use of sanitizers and handwashing, use of face mask, stop migration of people from one place to another and increasing the bed capacity, made corona units and health care workers continuously working in hospitals. But the severity and nature of this strain is unknown so through this article increasing the awareness among health care workers and general population to be aware and follow the government guidelines to break the transmission chain. Further research is needed to focus on the severity and development the drug regimen and efficiency of vaccine.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

No conflict of interest.

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Received on 03.02.2021                Modified on 13.05.2021

Accepted on 21.07.2021            ©A&V Publications All right reserved

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2021; 11(4):601-604.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2021.00140