New variants of the Covid virus appear to be more contagious, and it is imperative to introduce as much immunity into the population before these rays can take root. These new variables are evolving in ways that could allow them to slip past diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines. The effort needs a new scientific and regulatory framework that allows reactions to change and update rapidly as the risk grows.
Recent changes do not seem to make Covid infections more severe, but they do make it easier to transmit the virus. Some have part of the coronavirus spike protein known as the receptor binding domain, which is a target of drugs and vaccines. This genetic evolution was inevitable. The virus has been racing around the world for a year. Side effects reduce transmission, but they also enrich the prospects for some mutant sequences.
Two steps would help us stay ahead of these developments. First, participate in real-time monitoring and analysis. Covid ‘s genomic analysis system could largely sample and order the virus, to identify changes when and where they appear. There is a similar system for flu, but not Covid. New investments in experimental science would provide more insight into how the genetic characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus link to its clinical behavior. That can answer the question of whether these evolutionary changes raise new public health concerns. The next-generation prescription is widely available in the U.S., but is not routinely used for public health testing. Most of it is done as part of academic studies that do not find series as they appear.
Second, when a new genetic variable is identified and considered a threat, it will be important to have a system in place for effective updating of drugs and vaccines.
Take the human antibody drugs, which pass to a specific region of the virus and neutralize it, which can prevent complications if given early in the course of the disease. Some of these antibodies target spike proteins that are susceptible to mutation. To prevent dangerous changes from appearing, such drugs should be targeted to areas of the virus that do not change much. When disturbing differences arise, the antibody drugs can be modified to pursue conserved divisions on the new layers. But to keep up with the virus, we need to evaluate these modified antibodies for their safety and ability to reduce Covid viral loads, without the need for full product studies.