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A recent study at the University of Malta School of Medicine, Malta, has revealed a drop in the amount of 2.5 (PM2.5) granules, which are airborne pollutants with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers, in the atmosphere due to locking. it is associated with the emergence of a newer version of acute respiratory coronavirus syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has infected the original virus after locking. The new viral variant (D614G mutant) may be able to use other types of PM, including the one derived from tobacco smoking, as a viral vector for its release. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.
_-_1200_width.jpg?resize=560%2C438&ssl=1 "Study: Atmospheric PM2.5 Before and After Lockdown on COVID-19 Evolution and Daily Viral Counts: Could natural viral selection have occurred as a result of changes in PM2.5 air pollution acting as Vector for SARS-CoV-2 ?. Image credit: NIAID / Flickr")
Background
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exponentially, a second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been observed in many countries around the globe. This may be due to the relaxation of government agencies on control measures in the final stages of the pandemic. In addition to an increase in the frequency of COVID-19, an increase in the level of contamination was also observed at the post-locking stage. In this context, several environmental studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 uses PM2.5 as a viral vector for diffusion and that an increase in atmospheric PM2.5 level is associated with entry into new cases of COVID-19 in many cities in China. In addition, there is evidence that PM2.5 may disrupt the lung microbial immune system, which may help SARS-CoV-2 to attack the lung. -spray system.
Routine study design
The current study was conducted to investigate whether a change in atmospheric PM2.5 level can affect the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 as well as its ability to capture host cells.
The scientists have used the Air Quality Index to obtain average PM2.5 levels in select cities including Beijing, Sheffield, Nottingham, Sydney and Cambridge. In addition, they collected information on daily viral counts of the original and newer SARS-CoV-2 versions from the available literature.
Important comments
The findings of the study show that a concomitant increase in viral numbers coincides with the increase in atmospheric PM2.5 levels in most cities, with the exception of Beijing. In these cities, a low baseline PM2.5 level was observed before an increase in viral numbers. This indicates that PM2.5 may be a potent viral vector that facilitates the release of SARS-CoV-2.
A different pattern was observed in Beijing, where a 36% reduction in PM2.5 level was observed when the viral count was reduced.
In the cities surveyed, a significant reduction in PM2.5 level was observed after one week of regional and national lock-in.
Importantly, a newer viral conversion (D614G) has been found to coincide with declining PM2.5 levels. In Beijing, the significantly increased PM2.5 level is mainly related to the original SARS-CoV-2 but not to the mutant version. In contrast, a correlation between the viral mutant and PM2.5 level was observed in Sydney and Cambridge. In Sheffield and Nottingham, both the original and mutant forms of SARS-CoV-2 bind to the PM2.5 level.
Investigate meaning
The findings of the study clarify the role of environmental pollution, including PM2.5 level in influencing the release of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, PM2.5 appears to play a role in the treatment of viral evolution. The initial viral variant was the largest when the PM2.5 level was significantly increased. In contrast, the mutant variable gradually shifted its original shape and became obsolete when the PM2.5 level decreased.
Several genetic studies following the SARS-CoV-2 genome have revealed that more than 13,000 mutations have already occurred over a period of less than a year. Such rapid genetic predispositions reveal the potential for environmental modification of the virus as part of natural selection. Thus, it is possible that a change in atmospheric PM2.5 level serves as a driving force for both viral transmission and evolution.
Based on the findings of the study, the scientists suggest that the mutant SARS-CoV-2 may use other sources of PM, such as PM derived from tobacco smoke, as a viral vector to support your release.
* Important message
medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be seen as final, guiding health-related clinical practice / behavior, or treated as fixed information.