Page 34 - COVID Newsletter 11 June

SARS-CoV-2 V501Y.V2 variant (B.1.351) detected in travellers from
South Africa and Tanzania to India
The SARS-CoV-2 has been continuously mutating, leading to new variant strains since the emergence of the pandemic (2020-21). The first SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20I/501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7 Pangolin lineage) was reported from the United Kingdom (UK) which had 14 mutations
and three amino acid deletions that influence the transmissibility of the virus in humans. Subsequently, emergence of new variants V501Y.V2 and 20J/501Y.V3 were also reported from South Africa and Brazil, respectively. Although, 50% increased transmissibility has been observed with V501Y.V2, the clinical severity associated with the variant is not known.
The variant strains of SARS-CoV-2 have raised serious concerns related to their increased transmissibility and also their ability to evade the immune response elicited by available S gene- based vaccines. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported a resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in few countries due to the emergence of the variant strains.
Contact Info: hellopragya22@gmail.com
Website Link:
https://www.icmr.gov.in/pdf/covid/papers/B.1.351%20first%20detection%20in%20 India.pdf
Clinical presentation of cases with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection/
reactivation
The current COVID-19 pandemic is growing rapidly and healthcare workers (HCWs) are
at a high risk of contagious SARS-CoV-2 infection. Frontline HCWs are at increased risk of COVID-19 as compared to the general population. With the passing time in the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of reinfection is an emerging threat. Although it is generally assumed that an episode of infection with SARS-CoV-2 would generate enough immune response providing protection for future infections, notwithstanding this, there are a few case reports demonstrating the possibility of re-infection. Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 was expected to induce a monophasic disease with at least transient immunity. Nevertheless,
rare cases of suspected COVID-19 “recurrence” or “reactivation” have been reported (REFS). Reinfection/reactivation of SARS-CoV-2 has been a matter of great interest from the immunological and vaccine perspective. However, little is known about the clinical presentation of such reinfection/reactivation.
Contact Info: nirajdr@hotmail.com, gajbhiyer@nirrh.res.in
Website Link:
https://www.nirrh.res.in/publications/?by=title&search=sars
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348096798_Clinical_Presentation_of_ Cases_with_SARS-CoV-2_Reinfection_Reactivation
A recombinant fragment of human surfactant protein-D binds spike protein and inhibits infectivity and replication of SARS-COV-2 in clinical samples
COVID-19 is an acute infectious disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Human surfactant protein D (SP-D) is known to interact with spike protein of SARS-CoV, but its immune-surveillance against SARS-CoV-2 is not
VOL. IV ISSUE 4
VIGYAN PRASAR 30
NATION’S S&T EFFORTS AGAINST COVID-19