Debate over development of pathogenic strains of CoV-2

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

In the last couple of weeks different research groups have presented various analyses on whether or not CoV-2 mutated into a more pathogenic and easier to transmit form.

Related articles are included below.

Spike mutation pipeline reveals the emergence of a more transmissible form of SARS-CoV-2.
Korber B al. bioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2020.04.29.069054
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.29.069054v2

This 33-page report raises concerns that the virus has mutated into a more severe from. Although from established researchers (with a history of HIV-related research), it is a bioRxiv preprint that has not been peer reviewed.

SARS-CoV-2 viral spike G614 mutation exhibits higher case fatality rate

Manuel Becerra-Flores and Timothy Cardozo, Int J Clin Pract. 2020 May 6. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.13525.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32374903

This study from NYU supports the more pathogenic mutation from Korber et al.

The problem with stories about dangerous coronavirus mutations.
Yong E. The Atlantic.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-strains-transmissible/611239
A new report that is critical of the findings.

Details discussed in Twitter thread
Trevor Bedford (from Fred Hutchinson/https://nextstrain.org/).
https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1257825352660877313

Some coronaviruses can reinfect the same person quickly: will that happen with SARS-CoV-2?
Mark Mascolini report for NATAP.org
http://natap.org/2020/COVID/043020_04.htm

Study finds nearly everyone who recovers from COVID-19 makes coronavirus antibodies.
Francis Collins, NIH Directors Blog.
https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/05/07/study-finds-nearly-everyone-who-recovers-from-covid-19-makes-coronavirus-antibodies

Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19.
Long QX et al. Nat Med. (29 April 2020).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32350462

Links to other websites are current at date of posting but not maintained.