Recently, a patient in San Francisco was diagnosed as being infected with the "Brazil variant" of the novel COVID-19 virus," according to a national television news broadcast I viewed. This news report causes me to wonder what might be its significance ? Nothing was stated as to whether or not the patient had visited Brazil. No scientist was interviewed who could make any correlation between the Brazil variant and the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) code of the novel COVID-19 virus itself or any of its variants. I believe that this ResearchGate question has a factual answer, so I am posting it as a "technical question," but if I learn that there is no factual, scientifically verifiable answer, I plan to re-post it as a discussion question instead of a technical question.

I wish to everybody continuing good health, or, if appropriate, a safe and quick recovery.

I think that the ability of the variants to emerge is primarily caused by genetic mechanisms located in the genetic code of the virus itself.

Dear Nancy Ann Watanabe thank you for your interesting and important technical question. The spreading of the new coronavirus variants occurs through travelers e.g. from Brazil or South Africa. Please have a look e.g. at the following useful link entitled

Risk related to the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA – first update

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/COVID-19-risk-related-to-spread-of-new-SARS-CoV-2-variants-EU-EEA-first-update.pdf

Frank T. Edelmann ,

Thank you so much for the link to the Bulletin issued by the European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDPC) dated 21 January 2021.

The detailed information summarized from reports from 104 sources, including health departments, hospitals, scientific and medical research centers, data collection institutes, universities, regional and national epidemiology monitoring organizations, etc., confirms my worst suspicions that two main thrusts are causing the current rapid increase in the numbers of infected individuals in "hot spots": (1) relaxation of the restrictions on the public to maintain stay-at-home, social distancing, and protective facial mask wearing; and (2) the ability of the corona virus to mutate spontaneously and to reproduce even more rapidly than the ancester virus.

According to the 21 January 2021 report in the link, the first part of my RG discussion thread question (i.e., the corona virus genome) is much more difficult to answer than is the second part (i.e., travel-related spread of the corona viruses). Regarding the genetic part of my RG discussion question: Few nations have the scientific personnel, equipment, and time it takes to do the necessary sequencing to determine that a variant is causing a patient's illness and not the original virus. Evidently, the families of corona viruses are rather unstable and in ways which tend to increase their virulence and strength, almost like hybrid vigor.

According to the link shared on this RG discussion thread by Frank T. Edelmann, there are currently three major variants which have been identified to date: (1) VOC 2O2012/01 known as the UK variant because it has actively been increasing the number of corona virus cases in the southern part of the United Kingdom. VOC 202012/01 also known as SARS-CoV-2 202012/01 has been in the UK since 20 September 2020 and its "transmissibility is significantly higher than SARS-CoV-2." Most VOC 202012/01 cases detected in Denmark are not travel-associated."

A high number of "travel-associated cases of patients infected with the UK VOC 202012/01 variant" of the corona virus were found to have "traveled to the UK, Barbados, Lebanon, Switzerland, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), and the United Arab Emirates." Instead of attributing this pattern of infections to any spontaneous mutation of the SARS-Covid-19 virus, the ECDPC report suggests that the reason for the spread of the VOC 202012/01 variant is being caused by the "relaxing of NPI's," such as "social distancing," and also mentions that the "travel-related VOC 202012/01" is "associated with recent travel to the UK, Czechia, Poland and Sweden," which has resulted in "increased transmissibility of the new variants."

(2) The second main variant identified by the ECDPC report is 501Y.V2 known as the South African variant because it has achieved a rapid and widespread infection rate in South Africa, where it has been found to be "50% more transmissible" than the Covid-19/SARS V-2 corona virus.

(3) The third variant identified in the ECDPC report is the P.1 variant known as the Brazil variant because it has claimed many patients and victims in Brazil. The P.1 variant has "11 amino acid changes in the spike protein" and is "divergent from its ancestral lineage." Very little is as yet known about its "severity, immunity, reinfection, vaccination and treatment."

It should be observed that the ECDPC report of 21 January 2021 begins by pointing out that there corona virus genome is just starting to be explored and that the virus changes all of the time. We must conclude that the naming of the above three specific variants is the result of countless hours devoted to sequencing made possible by the submission of data from samples taken from hundreds of thousands of patients who have been afflicted with the disease in many different parts of the world. For example, the ECDPC report asserts that "As of 19 January 2021, cases of SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 have been reported from 60 countries world wide."

The ECDPC report of 21 January 2021 does not claim to be comprehensive, although it is a valuable source of detailed information because it has gathered together bits of geographically specific statistical data and compiled all of the assorted information in a highly readable narrative. The preponderance of the evidence presented supports the view that the novel COVID-19 variants are spread with unprecedented rapidity by infected carriers who are traveling from one nation to another nation. However, the flow of this narrative is occasionally intercepted by statements that suggest otherwise, that is, that a given variant is transmitted, not by travel, but by some other as-yet-undetermined cause. For example, the ECDPC mentions that "In Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands, some cases of the SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 variant have been reported as "not being travel-associated." Another example of a statement which would appear to suggest that the variants are mutating in certain patients who are infected but who have not traveled is: "The 501 Y.V2 variant is circulating outside South Africa" and moreover the incidence of patients found to be infected with the 401 Y.V2 variant is increasing, having been "reported by 10 countries." Another isolated statement that suggests that the 501 Y.V2 variant is both travel-related and mutates spontaneously asserts that France was reported to have "29 cases," and only "5" were "travel-related."

One of the main aims of the ECDPC report is to encourage continued efforts of the member nation participants to test patients, report results, and pledge to perform 500 genetic sequencing analyses per week.

The report emphasizes the importance of getting the general public to maintain the original protocols of social distancing, wearing protective face masks, washing hands, avoiding crowds, and, above all, it categorically and repeatedly asserts the significance of travel, exhorting everybody to abstain from "unnecessary travel"!

Last-Minute Call for Chapters

Book Title: Sustainability Measures for the COVID-19 Pandemic

Publisher: Springer

Our ResearchGate colleague Dr. Mamta Mittal has asked me to tell you she can consider submissions because 3 papers were rejected for her volume of papers. If anybody is interested, you may contact her by email.

Here is my copy of the letter I just now received in my RG message box:

"Dear MAM, Thanxx for working on THEME OF COVID-19. There is one good opportunity , we were almost windup our another book on Covid, but three chapters I have to reject at time of submission due to plag issues, as we prefer maximum plag upto 10 percent, single source 2 percent. If you or in your circle any chapter on covid then update me immediately IN ONE OR TWO DAYS. My mail id is [email protected]. Topics I m sharing here: Book Title: Sustainability Measures for COVID-19 Pandemic Publisher: Springer The details contents of the book are as below: Chapter 1: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for handling pandemic challenges Chapter 2: Blockchain & Mathematical Models for handling pandemic challenges Chapter 3: Internet of Things & Web Services for handling pandemic challenges Chapter 4: Cloud-based framework for social media analysis Chapter 5: Applying Pattern recognition in epidemic risk analysis Chapter 6: Predicting the risk of infection and treatment outcomes Chapter 7: Social challenges and consequences of COVID-19 Chapter 8: Mental health decline during corona virus outbreak Chapter 9: Predict Relapse impact of Recovered Covid-19 Patients Chapter 10: Public Health Preparedness in the pandemic situations Chapter 11: Economical Impact & measures of Corona Regime Chapter 12: Future Impact & measures of Corona Virus influence on Environment Chapter 13: AI and Big Data for Neutralizing Antibody Discovery Chapter 14: Smart devices to fight against new coronavirus Chapter 15: Industry 4.0 technologies and their applications in fighting COVID-19 pandemic With Regards Dr. Mamta Mittal G. B. Pant Government Engineering College, Okhla, New Delhi https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=toYvcaoAAAAJ&hl=en

"

Dear MAM, Thanxx for working on THEME OF COVID-19. There is one good opportunity , we were almost windup our another book on Covid, but three chapters I have to reject at time of submission due to plag issues, as we prefer maximum plag upto 10 percent, single source 2 percent. If you or in your circle any chapter on covid then update me immediately IN ONE OR TWO DAYS. My mail id is [email protected]. Topics I m sharing here:

Book Title: Sustainability Measures for COVID-19 Pandemic

Publisher: Springer

The details contents of the book are as below:

Chapter 1: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for handling pandemic challenges

Chapter 2: Blockchain & Mathematical Models for handling pandemic challenges

Chapter 3: Internet of Things & Web Services for handling pandemic challenges

Chapter 4: Cloud-based framework for social media analysis

Chapter 5: Applying Pattern recognition in epidemic risk analysis

Chapter 6: Predicting the risk of infection and treatment outcomes

Chapter 7: Social challenges and consequences of COVID-19

Chapter 8: Mental health decline during corona virus outbreak

Chapter 9: Predict Relapse impact of Recovered Covid-19 Patients

Chapter 10: Public Health Preparedness in the pandemic situations

Chapter 11: Economical Impact & measures of Corona Regime

Chapter 12: Future Impact & measures of Corona Virus influence on Environment

Chapter 13: AI and Big Data for Neutralizing Antibody Discovery

Chapter 14: Smart devices to fight against new coronavirus

Chapter 15: Industry 4.0 technologies and their applications in fighting COVID-19 pandemic

With Regards

Dr. Mamta Mittal

G. B. Pant Government Engineering College,

Okhla, New Delhi

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=toYvcaoAAAAJ&hl=en

The European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control report appears to me to be somewhat controversial because my conclusion differs significantly from the conclusion drawn by Frank T. Edelmann , who kindly shared the document here on this RG technical question thread. (1) He concludes, "The spreading of the new coronavirus variants occurs through travelers, e.g., from Brazil or South Africa." In contrast, I conclude that there is no conclusive evidence that this is exclusively true. Although there appears to be some evidence that a higher number of patients infected with one of the three variants contracted the disease when they traveled outside of their native country, there is also evidence for at least two other possibilities: (2) The novel COVID-19 virus mutates genetically into different variants in individuals who have not traveled outside their native countries, such as has been found to be the case in Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands for the SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 variant (see the ECDPC report link above). (3) The novel COVID-19 virus mutates genetically into different variants under specific local conditions, such as the result of factors including crowding, poor sanitation and waste water treatment, high density population, nonpractice of social distancing/mask wearing/hand washing/proper hygiene.

According to the ECDPC report of January 21, 2021, France submitted statistics recorded for the incidence of the 501 Y.V2 variant, which included 29 cases, only 5 of which were "travel-related." Therefore, there are 24 non-travel-related persons who were tested and found to be victims and carriers of the 501 Y.V2 variant. Based on this example, it is premature to conclude that "the new coronavirus variants occurs through travelers" [bold-face removed].

My search for the answer(s) to my technical question is still open to replies and answers.

Best regards to all.

Dear Dr. Watanabe,

Thank you for your interesting question. I am not an epidemiologist or a virologist.

“If a variant is discovered in two different patients in two different nations simultaneously, would this prove that the ability of the variants to emerge is primarily caused by genetic mechanisms located in the genetic code of the virus itself?” N.A.W.

It is a big IF that would be very difficult to prove. Has this ever happened?

'According to the ECDPC report of January 21, 2021, France submitted statistics recorded for the incidence of the 501 Y.V2 variant, which included 29 cases, only 5 of which were "travel-related." 'N.A.W.

My interpretation of your above comment, is that the "non-travel related cases" were through transmission rather than 'independent identical' mutation (if random it would be a chance in S!). I cannot fathom what the odds would be for

simultaneous independent identical mutation.

To me the mecanism is :

1- first seeding.

2- propagation

3- mutation: when the virus find the proper conditions (climate-wise) and host-wise (animals, people's health, immune system, underlying health conditions, genetics ?) then it has a chance to mutate.

As far as I am aware, only variations of vaccine efficacy and risks/side-effects have been observed based on genetic dependence? male vs female, and within American subgroups.

Preprint COVID-19 crisis -Exit strategy: Part 1-Exploring pathways of...

With respectful regards

GH

Moreover, the convergence theory is more or less based on Darwinism or rather on neo-Darwinism.

G. Havet ,

Thank you very much for your detailed reply to my commentary on the January 21, 2021, ECDPC report. I share your speculative interest in the information given in it. I think that the ECDPC performs a much needed service in serving as a central processing headquarters for the collection of variant information and it is totally understandable that much of the data has yet to be analyzed and conclusions drawn. I am certain that much more information is being collected especially in view of the growing number of cases of variants, in particular the UK variant, which, according to a report here in the United States of America released on April 8, 2021, accounts for 50% of the new COVID-19 cases which are rapidly spreading throughout the nation.

On April 8, 2021, the following report issued by the Center for Disease Control in the United States of America shows that the UK variant now accounts for half of the new cases of the Covid-19 corona virus in the United States of America:

"CDC: UK variant of COVID-19 is now most common strain in United States

The highly contagious variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the United Kingdom has become the most common strain of the virus in the United States as cases continue to climb, a top U.S. health official said on Wednesday.

The strain, known as B.1.1.7, was identified in Britain last fall and has since been detected in 52 jurisdictions in the United States, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters at a White House briefing.

U.S. public health officials have urged Americans to get vaccinated as soon as possible in part to prevent new variants of the novel coronavirus from spreading.

The United States has also detected cases of a variant first discovered in South Africa that is thought to be resistant to some COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. That strain has been found in 36 U.S. jurisdictions, according to federal data last updated on Tuesday.

The United States is administering about 3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses per day on average over the past week, up 8% over the previous seven-day average, Walensky said.

Vaccine supply has increased significantly in the United States in recent weeks as Johnson & Johnson has begun making millions of doses of its recently authorized shots. Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have also recently boosted their vaccine production capacity.

U.S. President Joe Biden has doubled his goal for shots administered in his first 100 days in office from 100 million to 200 million and urged states to begin giving shots to all adults by mid-April. (Open https://tmsnrt.rs/3tUM8ta in an external browser to see a vaccination graphic)

Still, daily U.S. cases of novel coronavirus are averaging 63,000 over the past seven days, up 2.3% from the previous seven-day average, Walensky said.

Walensky said that the CDC has identified a number of COVID-19 outbreaks tied to youth sporting events and that communities experiencing high case counts should avoid holding such events. Testing should also happen twice a week, she said.

White House COVID-19 adviser Andy Slavitt also told reporters that the U.S. government is expanding its community health center program, which it set up in recent weeks to help get vaccines into underserved communities."

Source Authors: "(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Jeff Mason and Carl O'Donnell; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)"

As of April 8, 2021, the national television news broadcasting networks are reporting that the Center for Disease Control-U.S.A. is announcing that three million Covid-19 vaccine doses per day are being received in the United States of America (3,000,000 doses per day of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson&Johnson vaccines combined total). There is an average of 63,000 new cases of Covid-19 per day in the United States of America (sixty-three thousand new cases per day of the parent novel COVID-19 virus and its three major UK, Brazil, and South Africa variants combined total).

G. Havet , Frank T. Edelmann , Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak

From a purely scientific point of view, the case of France may be the most relevant to the core question I am asking, and, possibly, the one which may provide evidence that the novel COVID-19 variants spread both genetically and locally AND geographically by travelers. If it is true that only 5 cases of 29 cases are travel-related, then the onset, prognosis, and etiological cause for the 24 outstanding cases NOT travel-related represents a special subset. Demographically and geographically, France is strategically well-positioned for scientific research and analysis because her population is multi-racial and multi-cultural with proximity to the UK and citizenry containing South African and African people who were born in France. Although there may be little or no likelihood that any studies will be done involving correlation of the UK variant and the South African variant with the 24 patients who contracted the 501 Y.V2 variant, which is a code name for the South African variant, it seems as least plausible to me that, for an example, if there are French-born persons of South African ancestry in the subgroup of 24 patients who have had the South African variant but did not travel to South Africa and did not have contact with any persons who had recently traveled to South Africa, then there might be a hypothetical possibility that there is an innate or an inherent correlation between the South African variant's genetic code and the human genetic code of persons who are of South African ancestral racial heritage.

You are doing very well if you are following my line of reasoning.

Another scenario which I envision is a correlation between the UK variant and the predominantly Anglo European American-born subset of the population in the United States of America. Broadly viewed, then, the current statistical finding that fully one-half, or 50% of the new cases of the Covid-19 virus patients are infected with the UK variant,* might, in my opinion, be interpreted as evidence that the COVID-19 variants spread genetically and locally, as differentiated from geographically by travelers. My Conclusion: From a scientific and theoretical point of view, there is a DOUBLE THREAT to contracting the Covid-19 virus, which might, therefore, be even more highly contagious, based both on a genetic matchup between factors obtaining from the COVID-19 GENOME AND THE HUMAN GENOME. It is because of this correlation between the SARS-Covid-19 viral genome and the human deoxyribonucleic acid genome, which contains genetic information about such demographic features as race, sex (gender), and related chromosomally coded characteristics, that the variants are doubly or possibly triply energized to spread more rapidly and more virulently than the parent SARS Covid-19 virus.

*"On April 8, 2021, the following report issued by the Center for Disease Control in the United States of America shows that the UK variant now accounts for half of the new cases of the Covid-19 corona virus in the United States of America:

"CDC: UK variant of COVID-19 is now most common strain in United States

The highly contagious variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the United Kingdom has become the most common strain of the virus in the United States as cases continue to climb, a top U.S. health official said on Wednesday.

The strain, known as B.1.1.7, was identified in Britain last fall and has since been detected in 52 jurisdictions in the United States, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters at a White House briefing" (Cited from my above post on this ResearchGate discussion thread 52 minutes ago, April 8, 2021).

My scientific hypothesis is that the reason for the perception of and observed fact that the UK variant and the South African variant, and possibly, the Brazilian variant, are spreading most rapidly and virulently throughout their locales and throughout the rest of the world is that there is a genetic causal reason, that is, there is a linkage between the novel COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 GENOME'S UK, South African, and Brazilian VARIANTS and the HUMAN DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID GENOME involving demographically observable, biogenetically analyzable (chromosomal) traits of race-linked and sex-linked (racial and/or gendered markers) such that it can be stated that there is a predisposition based on race and / or national origins and / or color for certain individuals to contract the UK variant or the South African variant, which, moreover, increases the epidemiological factors resulting in rising rates in the spreading of the genomic family of the novel Covid-19 virus and its variants, which have already been scientifically identified with geographical markers among living victims in the UK, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Israel, France, the United States of America, Barbados, Lebanon, Switzerland, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Czechia, Poland, Sweden, South Africa, and many other nations globally.

A high number of "travel-associated cases of patients infected with the UK VOC 202012/01 variant" of the coronavirus were found to have "traveled to the UK, Barbados, Lebanon, Switzerland, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), and the United Arab Emirates." Instead of attributing this pattern of infections to any spontaneous mutation of the SARS-Covid-19 virus, the ECDPC report suggests that the reason for the spread of the VOC 202012/01 variant is being caused by the "relaxing of NPI's," such as "social distancing," and also mentions that the "travel-related VOC 202012/01" is "associated with recent travel to the UK, Czechia, Poland and Sweden," which has resulted in "increased transmissibility of the new variants."

From a scientific, medical, and cultural perspective, I am emphasizing the possibility of correlations of the novel COVID-19-SARS-CoV2 virus genome with the human genome. Nevertheless, this is a practical social and international global societal issue, so I also stress the overriding importance of human actions and interactions. It is my considered opinion that, as I state elsewhere, "one of the biggest problems and most contentious issues is air travel being resumed, by millions of people in the United States of America, for example. Even though the vast majority of passengers who board commercial jetliners are probably not infectious, and anybody who fails to wear protective masks to keep their nose and mouth covered at all times during the trip are ejected from the plane, the fact that the novel Covid-19 virus is so readily spread through the very air we breathe can result in one virally infected individual traveler spreading the disease throughout an airplane's cramped space. Scientists are trying to track the spread of the corona virus and especially now its three main variants, the UK, South African, and Brazilian variants, working together with more than one hundred national data collection centers, university medical research laboratories, and different sorts of agencies and health departments, including the Center for Disease Control in Washington, D.C.. The most dramatic event is the scientific discovery that is sweeping through the world of the fact that the Covid-19 variants show a significantly higher rate of incidence and spread once it hits any given nation. In the United States of America, the UK variant now, as of April 8, 2021, accounts for one-half (50%) of all known cases of people who are falling ill from the corona virus, which spreads much more rapidly than the "parent" Covid-19-SARS-CoV2 ever did even at its height of contagion. However, nobody is panicking, in fact quite the opposite is true. Local, state, regional, and national governmental officials are endeavoring to honor their promises and execute their well-planned schemes to restore a semblance of normalcy in a "business as usual" policy, which is mainly their democratically energized response to the voices of the people, who have been clamoring to have their children return to school and to return to their jobs and businesses. Some optimists are predicting that the corona virus and its variants will be subsiding during the summer, but Dr. Anthony Frauci, who is the carryover national health advisor to the U.S. president, warns that the current surges of infections diagnosed and hospitalizations which he is witnessing in different "hot spots" in the nation do not bode well for a smooth and timely recovery any time soon. The only "good news" is that the weather is better now and the distribution of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines is proceeding at a very good pace" (I have used quotation marks because I also posted this opinion of mine today on a similar ResearchGate discussion thread question about when the novel Covid-19 viral pandemic will be stopped and I would like to share this USA update on this RG discussion thread, which is very similar). At this point, I believe that the corona virus can be stopped, but, because of the UK, South Africa, and Brazil variants, it will take much longer than it otherwise would have when we only had to contend with the novel COVID-19-SARS-CoV2 corona virus "parent," which, as it ages, is producing "offspring" which are even stronger and faster than their progenitor.

Ashraf S. Alias ,

I would like to thank you very much for calling attention to an important point made in the ECDPC report so very graciously shared with us here by Frank T. Edelmann !!

Yes, I agree that the crucial factors which are controlling the current spread of the COVID-19 variants from a governmental perspective are definitely the relaxation of restrictions on people and their livelihoods and social lives, as well as the recent re-opening of airports in many of the industrialized nations. I am also appreciative of your effort to differentiate between the substance and content of the ECDPC report and my attempts to re-interpret some of the scientific data which it provides!!

Best regards!

Moreover, the convergence theory is more or less based on Darwinism or rather on neo-Darwinism.......... Agree with G. Have......most appropriate answer

Dear Nancy Ann Watanabe according to the link cited below the British B117 mutation now dominates in Germany, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.

European travel restrictions: Nonessential travel curbed

https://www.dw.com/en/european-travel-restrictions-nonessential-travel-curbed/a-56350272

(published April 7, 2021)

In Bangladesh, South African variant now dominates.

Dear Nancy Ann Watanabe,

Thank you for clarifying your query.

Unfortunately, this suggestion is a sad reminder of WWII. Why have we not learned from History?

What would be the purpose of such knowledge if even it could ever be proven?

I understand the freedom of speech is important to find solutions and that taboo are problems, however what are the limits for the scientists’ experimentations?

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_Was_ethics_given_a_proper_place_since_the_inception_of_the_Covid-19_pandemic_by_the_stakeholders

In theory, the genetically host-based mutation might be a correct hypothesis but to what extent? Is it based on human subgroups rather than species-based? Why this knowledge could lead to a non-discriminatory solution if any solution at all for this or future pandemics?

Again, how could you confirm it considering all the other factors and that the transmission is airborne, travelling, and mixing of subgroups cannot be prevented even in France, fortunately, to the point of segregation were people could be taken aside for such as discriminatory experimentation?

This is an infamous slippery slope that I hope not only France but also the European deciders have forbidden to follow.

Unfortunately, I suppose eugenics is still possible in other countries where there are inhumane islands and where people have not heard of WWII, or memory of WWII, or not learned from History, or no overcome their demons. Since philosophy has been severed from hard sciences ethics are jeopardized with ever more powerful technologies.

Or would it be an experiment for the infamous “The Island of Dr. Moreau”?

I think genetics and genetic engineering will do more harm than good in mankind history.

Supposedly, among the lame excuses to go on a wrong research path to satisfy a misplaced curiosity or hidden agenda: "if one thought about it, it will be done anyway."

“Science sans conscience n’est que ruine de l’âme » Rabelais,…, plusieurs siècle plus tard avec le « progrès » des technologies mais pas de la conscience c’est la ruine de l’humanisme et de l’humanité :

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is-it-time-we-shift-emphasis-from-technological-solutions-to-climate-change-focus-on-the-Human-Dimension

Sincerely

GH

P.1: This variant was first detected in the US in January 2021. P.1 was initially identified in travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at an airport in Japan, in early January. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html

Check https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2021/03/05/uk-brazil-cdc-covid-variant/?outputType=amp

Also check https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20210205/variants-will-continue-to-spread-despite-travel-restrictions

Wouldn't it be more constructive to focus on eliminating experimental bias and epigenical reasons to find a positive outcome?

Dear Nancy Ann Watanabe please have a look at this very recent article describing yet another potentially dangerous SARS-CoV-2 Variant:

A Novel and Expanding SARS-CoV-2 Variant, B.1.526, Identified in New York

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.23.21252259v2.full

Dear Nancy Ann Watanabe Kindly please find also (SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions):

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance/variant-info.html

Frank T. Edelmann ,

Thank you very much for posting and calling my attention to the link dated April 15, 2021, which has not yet been peer reviewed and is not to be utilized for clinical purposes. This preprint assembles details of research in the relevant literature, the sum total of which strongly suggests that the main reason for the current upsurge in the number of infected persons with the novel Covid-19-SARS-V-2 virus and the increased rapidity with which it is spread is being traced to a proliferation of mutations resulting in four predominant variants which are being correlated with specific geographical regions, e.g., Brazil, United Kingdom, and South Africa, as well as with specific demographically identifiable groups similar or identical to one another based on ethnic characteristics, including racial origins and ethnic cultures, all of which justifies the current trend of naming these four major variants in accordance with the geographical location where they are spreading like wildfire through a specific segment of the population.

The findings in the pre-publication preprint suggest that the novel Covid-19 variants spread in accordance with genetic factors whereby these new strains are highly transmissible because of their compatibility with specific racial and ethnic groups. For instance, the Brazil variant demonstrates superior capability to opportunistically be transmitted, perhaps due to socially and/or economic-related prevalent factors among a specific subset of the population in Brazil. For example, if a certain ethnic minority is identifiable as such in accordance with religious practices which exert strong sanctions against social distancing in favor of daily attendance at places of worship, then ethnicity and cultural practice are indicated, rather than genetically conditioned transmissibility. If, however, the Brazil variant is successfully sending persons of specific racial origins or ethnic roots to hospitals and morgues, then genetically conditioned transmissibility would be indicated.

This pre-publication reprint emphasizes locality, and therefore, tends to support the view that the corona virus variants are not so much spread by travelers who cross national borders, as by genetic and local factors.

Ibrahim H A Abd El-Rahim , @Chinaza Godswill Awuchi,

Thank you so much for posting a link to the February 21, 2021, news article which announces the U.S. President Joseph Biden's decision to impose travel restrictions. A sampling of this news item suggests that this decision is somewhat controversial in the U.S., where the democratic principle of free speech and pluralism marks a striking contrast to more authoritarian governments, including China and a number of European nations.

The current surge in the number and rapidity with which the corona virus and its variants are spreading throughout the Continental United States of America may be traced to the record high numbers of travelers flocking to airports and boarding commercial jumbo jetliners because, as the following excerpt indicates, there is no clear mandate and no consensus even among medical professionals and public health officials, as evidenced in the behavior of a significant portion of the public:

"Amesh A. Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said it is important to remember that “even with travel restrictions, the variants are spreading in the United States and we should not get a false sense of security by these measures.”

“I think that there needs to be a distinction drawn between travel bans and travel restrictions, Adalja told Healio. “For example, we have the testing technology to be able to facilitate travel in a relatively COVID-19-free manner, it just needs to be implemented — at the gate.”

Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, director of the division of infectious diseases and endowed chair in infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, said travel restrictions can and do work.

However, “timing is everything,” said Marrazzo, who is also an Infectious Diseases News Editorial Board Member. The efficacy of such restrictions depends on accurately identifying travelers who pose a real risk, she said.

“COVID-19 has posed a special challenge, because at least half — and possibly more — of all transmission comes from people who are infected but don’t know it — either they don’t have symptoms, or they don’t recognize them as concerning for COVID,” said Marrazzo. “For this reason, broadly applying travel bans to a region that is believed to be the source of a specific concern could be effective.”

The emerging variants are thought to be more transmissible, with the potential to bypass immunity elicited by natural infection or vaccination.

Researchers have predicted that the variant discovered in the U.K., B.1.1.7, could be the dominant SARS-CoV-2 virus in the U.S. by March. According to the CDC, the variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants, and experts in the U.K. have reported that it may be associated with an increased risk for death, although more studies are needed to confirm this.

The B.1.351 variant that was first identified in South Africa is the most worrisome, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony S. Fauci, MD, and other experts have said. The variant first identified in Brazil is known as P.1. According to the CDC, all three have been detected in the U.S., although it is unclear how widespread they are.

Marrazzo said experts believe the window of opportunity to prevent variants from entering the U.S. or spreading out of control has closed. She said travel bans could prevent the importation of even more variants that could potentially emerge in response to various pressures, “but that is highly theoretical at this point, and the overall effect of such bans — including the human, societal and economic implications — needs to be carefully considered,” she said."

Ibrahim H A Abd El-Rahim , Chinaza Godswill Awuchi ,

Please accept my sincere apologies for unintentionally reversing the two different links which you two gentlemen have so kindly and generously posted on this ResearchGate discussion question thread!!

As the following excerpt indicates Ibrahim H A Abd El-Rahim .has contributed a link to some charts which are reflective scientific research on the corona virus variants:

"SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions

Updated Mar. 24, 2021

Languages

Print

Key Points:

• Genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been emerging and circulating around the world throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Viral mutations and variants in the United States are routinely monitored through sequence-based surveillance, laboratory studies, and epidemiological investigations.
• A US government interagency group developed a Variant Classification scheme that defines three classes of SARS-CoV-2 variants:Variant of Interest Variant of Concern Variant of High Consequence
• The B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.427, and B.1.429 variants circulating in the United States are classified as variants of concern

Viruses constantly change through mutation. A variant has one or more mutations that differentiate it from other variants in circulation. As expected, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been documented in the United States and globally throughout this pandemic. To inform local outbreak investigations and understand national trends, scientists compare genetic differences between viruses to identify variants and how they are related to each other.

Variant classifications

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established a SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) to improve coordination among the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and Department of Defense (DoD). This interagency group is focused on the rapid characterization of emerging variants and actively monitors their potential impact on critical SARS-CoV-2 countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

• Variants of Interest
• Variants of Concern
• Variants of High Consequence

In collaboration with the SIG, CDC established a classification scheme for variants of SARS-CoV-2. These classifications include definitions and attributes of the variants. Resulting public health actions are also described in the sections below.

Notes: Each class of variant includes the possible attributes of lower classes; variant status might escalate or deescalate based on scientific evidence. This page will be updated as needed to show the variants that belong to each class. The World Health Organization (WHO) also classifies variant viruses as Variants of Concern and Variants of Interest; US classifications may differ from those of WHO since the importance of variants may differ by location.

See Variant Proportions in the U.S.

Variant of Interest

A variant with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes to receptor binding, reduced neutralization by antibodies generated against previous infection or vaccination, reduced efficacy of treatments, potential diagnostic impact, or predicted increase in transmissibility or disease severity.

Possible attributes of a variant of interest:

• Specific genetic markers that are predicted to affect transmission, diagnostics, therapeutics, or immune escape
• Evidence that demonstrates it is the cause of an increased proportion of cases or unique outbreak clusters
• Limited prevalence or expansion in the US or in other countries

A variant of interest might require one or more appropriate public health actions, including enhanced sequence surveillance, enhanced laboratory characterization, or epidemiological investigations to assess how easily the virus spreads to others, the severity of disease, the risk of reinfection, and whether currently authorized vaccines offer protection.

Current variants of interest in the United States that are being monitored and characterized are listed in the table below. The table will be updated when a new variant of interest is identified.

Selected Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of ConcernName (Pango lineage) SubstitutionName (Nextstraina)First DetectedBEI Reference Isolateb

Predicted Attributes

B.1.526Spike: (L5F*), T95I, D253G, (S477N*), (E484K*), D614G, (A701V*) ORF1a: L3201P, T265I, Δ3675/3677 ORF1b: P314L, Q1011H ORF3a: P42L, Q57H ORF8: T11I 5’UTR: R81C20CNew York/November 2020

• Potential reduction in neutralization by monoclonal antibody treatments
• Potential reduction in neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera

B.1.525Spike: A67V, Δ69/70, Δ144, E484K, D614G, Q677H, F888L ORF1b: P314F ORF1a: T2007I M: I82T N: A12G, T205I 5’UTR: R81C20CNew York/December 2020

• Potential reduction in neutralization by monoclonal antibody treatments
• Potential reduction in neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera

P.2Spike: E484K, D614G, V1176F ORF1a: L3468V, L3930F ORF1b: P314L N: A119S, R203K, G204R, M234I 5’UTR: R81C20JBrazil/April 2020

• Potential reduction in neutralization by monoclonal antibody treatments
• Potential reduction in neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera

(*)=detected in some sequences but not all a – Nextstrainexternal icon b – The Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources (BEI Resources) is a NIAID-funded repository to provide reagents, tools, and information to the research community. The reference viruses proposed here facilitate the harmonization of information among all stakeholders in the COVID-19 pandemic research community. Please note that the reference viruses provided in the tables below are based on what is currently available through the BEI resources.

These variants share one specific mutation called D614G. This mutation was one of the first documented in the US in the initial stages of the pandemic, after having initially circulated in Europe[13]. There is evidence that variants with this mutation spread more quickly than viruses without this mutation [12external icon].

Variant of Concern

A variant for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.

Possible attributes of a variant of concern:

In addition to the possible attributes of a variant of interest

• Evidence of impact on diagnostics, treatments, and vaccinesWidespread interference with diagnostic test targets Evidence of substantially increased resistance to one or more class of therapies Evidence of significant decreased neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination Evidence of reduced vaccine-induced protection from severe disease
• Evidence of increased transmissibility
• Evidence of increased disease severity

Variants of concern might require one or more appropriate public health actions, such as notification to WHO under the International Health Regulations, reporting to CDC, local or regional efforts to control spread, increased testing, or research to determine the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments against the variant. Based on the characteristics of the variant, additional considerations may include the development of new diagnostics or the modification of vaccines or treatments.

Current variants of concern in the United States that are being closely monitored and characterized by federal agencies are included in the table below. The table will be updated when a new variant of concern is identified.

Selected Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of ConcernName (Pango lineage)Spike Protein Substitutions

Name (Nextstraina)

First DetectedBEI Reference Isolateb

Known Attributes

B.1.1.7Δ69/70 Δ144Y (E484K*) (S494P*) N501Y A570D D614G P681H20I/501Y.V1United KingdomNR-54000external icon

• ~50% increased transmission 5
• Likely increased severity based on hospitalizations and case fatality rates 6
• Minimal impact on neutralization by EUA monoclonal antibody therapeutics 7, 14
• Minimal impact on neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera 8,9,10,11,12,13,19

P.1K417N/T E484K N501Y D614G20J/501Y.V3Japan/ BrazilNR-54982external icon

• Moderate impact on neutralization by EUA monoclonal antibody therapeutics 7,14
• Reduced neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera 15

B.1.351K417N E484K N501Y D614G20H/501.V2South AfricaNR-54009external icon

• ~50% increased transmission16
• Moderate impact on neutralization by EUA monoclonal antibody therapeutics 7,14
• Moderate reduction on neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera 8,12,18,19,20

B.1.427L452R D614G20C/S:452RUS-California

• ~20% increased transmissibility 21
• Significant impact on neutralization by some, but not all, EUA therapeutics
• Moderate reduction in neutralization using convalescent and post-vaccination sera 21

B.1.429S13I W152C L452R D614G20C/S:452RUS-California

• ~20% increased transmissibility 21
• Significant impact on neutralization by some, but not all, EUA therapeutics
• Moderate reduction in neutralization using convalescent and post-vaccination sera 21

(*)=detected in some sequences but not all a – Nextstrainexternal icon b – The Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources (BEI Resources) is a NIAID-funded repository to provide reagents, tools, and information to the research community. The reference viruses proposed here facilitate the harmonization of information among all stakeholders in the COVID-19 pandemic research community. Please note that the reference viruses provided in the tables below are based on what is currently available through the BEI resources.

These variants share one specific mutation called D614G. This mutation was one of the first documented in the US in the initial stages of the pandemic, after having initially circulated in Europe[13]. There is  evidence that variants with this mutation spread more quickly than viruses without this mutation [12external icon].

Variant of High Consequence

A variant of high consequence has clear evidence that prevention measures or medical countermeasures (MCMs) have significantly reduced effectiveness relative to previously circulating variants.

Possible attributes of a variant of high consequence:

In addition to the possible attributes of a variant of concern

• Impact on Medical Countermeasures (MCM)Demonstrated failure of diagnostics Evidence to suggest a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness, a disproportionately high number of vaccine breakthrough cases, or very low vaccine-induced protection against severe disease Significantly reduced susceptibility to multiple Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or approved therapeutics More severe clinical disease and increased hospitalizations

A variant of high consequence would require notification to WHO under the International Health Regulations, reporting to CDC, an announcement of strategies to prevent or contain transmission, and recommendations to update treatments and vaccines.

Currently there are no SARS-CoV-2 variants that rise to the level of high consequence.

References

*Non-peer-reviewed

Related Resources

• Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants
• New Variants of the Virus that Causes COVID-19
• Cases, Data, and Surveillance
• COVID-19 Genomic Epidemiology Toolkit
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Syndicate

Last Updated Mar. 24, 2021

Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases

homeMore Resources

• CDC in Actionplus icon
• Global COVID-19plus icon
• Laboratoriesplus icon
• Data & Surveillanceplus iconUS Cases & Deathsplus icon Cases & Deaths by County Testing Data in the USplus icon Hospitalizations & Emergency Dept Visitsplus icon Serology (Antibody) Surveillanceplus icon Estimated COVID-19 Burden Wastewater Surveillanceplus icon Forecastingplus icon Special Populations Dataplus icon Weekly Reviewplus icon Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2plus iconSARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions Sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 (SPHERES) Epidemiology for COVID-19plus icon

I think it is being spreading genetically and geographically. Everyday we see a new mutations. Plz see the below link: {What Are The 677 Mutations? New Covid-19 Variants Found In The US}

https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/02/19/what-are-the-677-mutations-new-covid-19-variants-found-in-the-us/?sh=6d6c0f4454ae

Indian variant is now predominant here.. Bangladesh.

S J Malik ,

Thank you for your reply to this Research Gate discussion thread question, and I agreed with the general gist of your answer and now even more so because, as the title of the link you posted provides startling information: "What Are the 677 Mutations: New Covid-19 Variants Found in The U.S."). This proliferation of new variants is the most troubling thing that has happened since the pandemic began. Nobody seems to have an answer to the questions it raises. Already, we know that the vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, and other pharmaceutical firms have been given approval by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration only on an Emergency basis, pending longer-term scientific data giving evidence of the efficaciousness of these vaccines. The good news is that the vaccines are showing at least a 97% effectiveness rate among people who have already been vaccinated and we can therefore safely assume that this high rate applies to the novel COVID-19-SARS-CoV2 corona virus and all variants. When we take a closer look at the patients who are hospitalized with a variant of the corona virus, however, the scientifically conducted statistical tracking of their medical records shows that many patients who are discharged from hospital are still suffering from residual ailments, including to major organs, and it is not yet known as to the causes for these long-term after-effects in patients. On the other hand, it is rapidly becoming clear that the variants are even more contagious than the parent novel COVID-19-SARS-CoV2 corona virus. If one individual contracts one of the many variants, that person is a carrier, and often at the earliest moment, even before symptoms appear, can unknowingly transmit the variant corona virus to other persons, in particular to anybody with whom the asymptomatic person comes into contact, especially in an enclosed area, such as a home, work place, church, restaurant, store, and even a stadium , airport, bus station, movie theater, or any building structure where people are unable to know if the other people are carriers and newly infected persons or not. Strong vaccination programs are helping to lessen the impact of the hundreds of highly contagious corona virus variants.

Umme Shahera ,

I would like to thank you very much for your taking a few seconds to report from your Medical University in which you observe that the variant that is afflicting so many patients in India is now being widely detected and is currently, as you say "predominant" in Bangladesh. This is a very sad development and all I can say is to be of good courage and we all hope and pray for an abatement of the devastation spreading throughout the world sometime soon! Global communication is so important to human society's efforts in stopping the wild spread of the disease.