What are all the variants of the coronavirus? Learn to identify them!
Learning to differentiate the variants of the coronavirus is a task that has required the hard work of many experts. These studies are helpful to understand their symptoms and the effect of the vaccines on them.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2019 to the present, variants of the coronavirus have been witnessed. Changes that have had repercussions in one way or another throughout the globe.
What is the difference between a variant, strain and a mutation?
To understand this, it is important to mention that both viruses and bacteria are capable of adapting to the environment that surrounds them, in order to survive. That is why the coronavirus, as it has been expanding, mutated and evolved.
Viruses are cellular organisms, and therefore have a genetic load known as RNA, unlike human cells that have a DNA load. Thus:
1. A mutation is that single change that occurs in the RNA of the virus. All of them are very frequent, but they do not change the characteristics of the pathogen. two.
2. The strains are nothing more than morpho-physiological changes that the viruses have that take them away from their origin. For example, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 differ in morphological and functional characteristics.
3. A variant is multiple changes that occur in the RNA, modifying the characteristics of the virus. To date, 12 variants have been found: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon, Eta, lota, Kappa, Mu, Zeta, Delta and the popular Omicron.
Stratification of coronavirus variants
The World Health Organization keeps all variants under surveillance, categorizing them according to their morbidity and mortality under the acronym VOC, VOI and VOM.
VOC or variants of concern
VOC is the acronym for "variants of concern". Within such a group, some of them are:
Alpha B.1.1.7.
Beta B.1351.
Gamma P.1.
Delta B.1.617.2.
Omicron B.1.1.529.
They are known for their peculiar escape mechanism against the immune system, evading the intrinsic defenses of the individual.
VOI (variants of interest)
VOI are also the initials for "variants of interest". As such, only two of them are presented:
Lambda C.37.
Mu B.1621.
They are of particular interest to the scientific community due to their constant changes at the level of their genetic signature. Alterations that at any moment can increase its transmissibility, drug resistance or severity of presentation.
VOM or variants under surveillance
Finally, VOM is the acronym in the North American language to encompass the "variants under surveillance". In a practical way, the following are demonstrated:
B.1.1.318.
C.1.2.
B.1640.
The WHO, if it considers it so, can either add some to the list or delete the existing ones. For the time being, they are preserved without their own or outstanding names given their little relevance in the field.
Why are new variants emerging?
It is very common for viruses to mutate; especially if it is in contact with different immune systems. In order to survive and adapt to the environment that surrounds it, viruses undergo morphological and even physiological changes.
The methodology they use is multifactorial, but it is mainly attributed to the lack of acquired immunization. Poor vaccination campaigns or the inability to cover large populations make the general environment a playing field for these pathogens.
What is the deadliest variant?
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been 1 variant for every 3 months and each one has its significant peculiarities. Being Europe the most affected continent after each wave of infections.
The first variant to be identified was Alpha
Found in the UK, it had a high transmissibility compared to the original strain. It causes common symptoms such as cough, fever, malaise, muscle and skeletal ailments plus progressive dyspnea.
However, it shines with the ability of evading the host's innate response, unleashing massive contagion on the spot.
According to University of London virologist Clare Jolly, this is due to a conformational change in its biological architecture. He highlighted that it now has more affinity for host cells, developing mechanisms to evade the immune system in order to replicate.
After Alpha, Beta emerged in South Africa
Being one of the most dangerous due to its ability to reduce the effects of vaccines, it caused anxiety in society. This variant promulgates the same respiratory symptoms, afflicting a much higher percentage of healthy youth and adults.
Beta is unique in its kind, because in a nutshell, it escapes TCD4 and TCD8 lymphocytes, specialized immune cells.
In South America the Gamma variant was detected
Specifically in Brazil, Gamma caused multiple consequences in the health of the nation. Although his symptomatology does not stand out for specific things, he brought with him the ability to produce twice as many infections.
Delta made its first appearance in India
Delta represented a serious problem for 180 countries worldwide, infecting up to 60% more than the previous ones. The infection also began to exhibit changes with respect to its original symptomatology with:
Sickness.
vomiting.
Liquid stools.
However, preliminary studies have concluded that it is a less lethal variation of the original virus than Gamma or Alpha.
South Africa now suffers Omicron
At the beginning of November 2021, the WHO warned about the most endemic variant that has been presented for 3 years.
A singularity of Omicron is that it is able to evade the host's innate immune response. However, it only happens in people who are not vaccinated, as its symptoms are mild and very similar to a common cold.
Additionally, it was found that the affinity towards lung tissue decreased significantly. Omicron only seems to show analogy for the upper respiratory tract: nostrils, oral cavity and pharynx.
Even so, it is not a reason to neglect known biosecurity measures, much less think that the pandemic is in its final stages.
For his part, Omicron has achieved something surprising. In just 11 weeks from its origin, it infected more than 90 million people. Seen from another angle, it was able to infect in 77 days what the other variants did in 365 days.