The importance of naturally attenuated SARS-CoV-2in the fight against COVID-19.

TitleThe importance of naturally attenuated SARS-CoV-2in the fight against COVID-19.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsArmengaud J, Delaunay-Moisan A, Thuret J-Y, van Anken E, Acosta-Alvear D, Aragón T, Arias C, Blondel M, Braakman I, Collet J-F, Courcol R, Danchin A, Deleuze J-F, Lavigne J-P, Lucas S, Michiels T, Moore ERB, Nixon-Abell J, Rossello-Mora R, Shi Z-L, Siccardi AG, Sitia R, Tillett D, Timmis KN, Toledano MB, van der Sluijs P, Vicenzi E
JournalEnviron Microbiol
Volume22
Issue6
Pagination1997-2000
Date Published2020 06
ISSN1462-2920
KeywordsBetacoronavirus, Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral, SARS Virus, SARS-CoV-2
Abstract

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is wreaking havoc throughout the world and has rapidly become a global health emergency. A central question concerning COVID-19 is why some individuals become sick and others not. Many have pointed already at variation in risk factors between individuals. However, the variable outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infections may, at least in part, be due also to differences between the viral subspecies with which individuals are infected. A more pertinent question is how we are to overcome the current pandemic. A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 would offer significant relief, although vaccine developers have warned that design, testing and production of vaccines may take a year if not longer. Vaccines are based on a handful of different designs (i), but the earliest vaccines were based on the live, attenuated virus. As has been the case for other viruses during earlier pandemics, SARS-CoV-2 will mutate and may naturally attenuate over time (ii). What makes the current pandemic unique is that, thanks to state-of-the-art nucleic acid sequencing technologies, we can follow in detail how SARS-CoV-2 evolves while it spreads. We argue that knowledge of naturally emerging attenuated SARS-CoV-2 variants across the globe should be of key interest in our fight against the pandemic.

DOI10.1111/1462-2920.15039
Alternate JournalEnviron Microbiol
PubMed ID32342578
PubMed Central IDPMC7267670