Tokyo, which will host the Olympics in July, is currently struggling with the Wuhan pneumonia (novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19) virus strain with the E484K mutation. According to Tokyo Medical University, E484K may have replaced the original strain of the virus prevalent in Tokyo and become the latest threat to the Japanese capital.
The Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) reports that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has found that about half of the new confirmed cases have been infected with E484K recently, based on samples collected by the Tokyo Health and Safety Research Center in recent months.
E484K refers to a mutation in the sequence of the 484th amino acid of the spike protein of coronavirus, which changes from glutamic acid (abbreviated E) to ionic acid (abbreviated K). Some studies have suggested that E484K may evade the human immune system response, resulting in reduced vaccine protection or an increased risk of second-degree infection; however, there have been no reports that the E484K mutation has significantly increased infectivity or lethality.
The report noted that one third of the 36 cases had no history of foreign travel or related exposure. The Tokyo Health and Safety Research Center is expected to release a full report on the investigation next week.
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