The spikes on the outside of the coronavirus (illustrated in red) are what it uses to latch onto cells on the inside of a victim's airways. A mutated version of the virus appears to have developed stronger spikes so it is more likely to infect someone if they breathe it in, scientists say
Daily Mail: World's dominant strain of coronavirus 'is 10 TIMES more infectious than the one that jumped to humans in China' because it mutated so its vital spike protein doesn't snap as often in the body, scientists say
* Experts in Florida have added deeper understanding about the changed virus
* They say spike protein in original version of Covid-19 was weaker and snapped
* But the dominant strain in Europe and North America has evolved to be stronger
* This does not, however, appear to make patients any sicker or less sick
A mutated version of the coronavirus that has gripped Europe and the West is more infectious because it doesn't break as often while inside the body, a study has found.
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute in Florida say the 'spike protein' that the virus uses to attach to cells in the airways has adapted since January.
It used to break off regularly while trying to bind to receptors in people's airways, which it would use to gain entry to the body, but is now more resilient, they say.
A genetic mutation which scientists around the world have been picking up on for months appears to have caused this spike to be less likely to snap, and also to force the coronaviruses to produce more of them to make itself more infectious.
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Update: This coronavirus mutation has taken over the world. Scientists are trying to understand why. (Washington Post)
WNU Editor:You have to wonder if the vaccines that are being developed will work if the coronavirus continues to mutate.
