New mutations of COVID-19 found in minks

Canadian scientists have discovered two new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 gene sequences in minks in the United States, the medRxiv server reported.

As reported by News-medical.net, a variant with two mutations (N501T-G142D) and a variant with three mutations (N501T-G142D-F486L) have been found in the spiked protein SARS-CoV-2, the main structure that the virus uses to bind and infect cells. These two variants were not found in the SARS-CoV-2 gene sequences obtained from minks in other countries.

According to the research, these variants evolved during human infection before they spread to the mink population.

Scientists note that it is extremely important to monitor emerging new options to determine their impact on human and animal health.