Mutations

[Jon Schultz]

The coronavirus isn’t mutating quickly, suggesting a vaccine would offer lasting protection

Dr. Niman, please comment on this story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/the-coronavirus-isnt-mutating-quickly-suggesting-a-vaccine-would-offer-lasting-protection/2020/03/24/406522d6-6dfd-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html

[J Enders]

I would certainly defer to Dr. Niman, but my understanding is that an RNA virus such as coronavirus is prone to error in replication i.e. mutation. This virus is highly transmissible and will therefore have achieved a large reservoir of hosts. A vaccine may work but may also  introduce selection pressure such that mutations unfavorable to the hosts (humans) proliferate.

[Jon Schultz]

Thanks. What I would most like Dr. Niman to comment on is why most virologists, according to the article, aren't accepting the proposition that there are different strains with different severity and/or transmission characteristics. Dr. Niman seems convinced that the strain in Italy (and now other countries) is more deadly, whereas others are attributing the higher case fatality rate in Italy to other factors.

Edited March 25, 2020 by Jon Schultz

[Jon Schultz]

Also, Dr. Niman, do you think one vaccine will work for both of the current two main lineages you described to Jeff Rense last night? And if they're only going to create one vaccine, do you think it's important that they base it on the "Italian strain"?

[niman]

On 3/24/2020 at 6:48 PM, Jon Schultz said:

The coronavirus isn’t mutating quickly, suggesting a vaccine would offer lasting protection

Dr. Niman, please comment on this story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/the-coronavirus-isnt-mutating-quickly-suggesting-a-vaccine-would-offer-lasting-protection/2020/03/24/406522d6-6dfd-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html

Same comments were made for SARS.  Coronaviruses recombine frequently and will quickly evolve away from a vaccine.

[Jon Schultz]

I imagine you've seen this article, Dr. Niman, but if not:

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3079678/coronavirus-mutation-threatens-race-develop-vaccine

Coronavirus mutation could threaten the race to develop vaccine

A strain found in India showed changes in the mechanism used to bind the virus to human cells which could render current research futile

Researchers are targeting the same process that allowed Sars to infect people, but the mutation could upend their assumptions