Viruses are constantly evolving to ensure their survival. The conventional flu alonevirus mutates so often that we need a new vaccine every year. What does the mutation of the Corona virus for vaccine research? Could it be that when we finally have a vaccine, the virus has already developed new mutations?
Corona virus research: viruses are constantly mutating
Like all organisms, viruses always want to ensure their survival. To do this, they mutate. For example, influenza viruses mutate so often that scientists have to adapt a new vaccine every year that protects us humans from the new pathogen. The head of the Institute of Virology at the University of Marburg Prof. Stephan Becker explained in the Interview with the “Bild” newspaperthat the multiplication is the “main task” of the viruses. “If people are immune to a particular virus or are vaccinated, the virus has to bypass this barrier. It does so by changing.” Therefore, there are constantly new flu types.
Corona and flu viruses mutate differently
But won’t the coronavirus have developed until we finally have a vaccine in a year? Like the virologist explained to the “Bild” newspaper, the corona virus differs from the influenza virus in several ways.
Corona virus can still spread freely
On the one hand, there is currently no higher selection pressure for the corona virus than for the influenza virus. This is because the Covid-19 pathogen has so far been able to spread almost unhindered. Neither vaccination nor human immunity could stop Sars-CoV-2. Therefore, it has not yet been necessary to develop noteworthy mutations that may be even more dangerous than the known corona versions.
There are already thousands of coronavirus mutations
Viruses are constantly mutating – there are already a thousand versions of the corona virus alone, including the well-known SARS and MERS pathogens. The greatest fear of the scientists is that the virus could mutate in such a way that it either becomes even more dangerous for humans or that it changes where it attaches to humans. Vaccination would then become unusable – already immune and vaccinated people could become infected again.
Corona viruses mutate more slowly than influenza viruses
But the virologist gives the all-clear. Compared to the “Bild” newspaper, he explains that the mutation behavior of the coronavirus is also our advantage. Because coronaviruses have a large genome, they take longer to mutate. The more genetic material there is, the more complex the mutation process of a virus is.
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Sars CoV-2 vaccine expected in mid-2021
When asked when we could expect a vaccine, Professor Becker replied to the “Bild” newspaper: “We still expect to get approval for a vaccine in the middle of next year.” But he also gives new hope: “Of course, many people are vaccinated during the test phase.” This means that before mid-2021, many people will be immune to the Covid 19 pathogen.
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