Including The SARS-CoV-2 Virus, BRIN Researchers Say The Chance Of Viral Mutations Getting Stronger Is Only 4-5 Percent

Prof. Amin Soebandrio. (AMONG)

JAKARTA - Researcher at the Eijkman Center for Molecular Biology Research and Innovation at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Amin Soebandrio said mutations in viruses including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 do not necessarily cause the virus to get stronger. On the other hand, it can cause the virus to become weaker.

"Of the many mutations, it is precisely about 45 percent that causes the virus to die," Amin said when contacted in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, January 6.

Amin said about 30 percent of the mutations caused the virus to become weaker and about 20 percent did not cause any changes to the virus. Meanwhile, what causes the virus to become more active or 'strong' is only 4-5 percent of the mutations.

Amin said that not always the result of viral mutations causing the emergence of more dangerous variants. Although the chance of getting stronger for a virus from the mutation process is relatively small, it must still be taken into account.

According to Amin, from the small possibility, the variant resulting from the mutation that managed to escape environmental pressures such as from vaccinations and drugs, will become a stronger variant.

"Actually, the chances are small, but those who manage to escape will become stronger than the environmental pressures, either by vaccination by drugs and so on," said Amin.

Amin said there was a possibility that the variant could escape the antibodies generated either from vaccination or natural infection. "All mutations can be like that, so it depends on where the mutation is," he said.

Not long ago a new variant of Omicron appeared, another new variant appeared, namely the IHU variant. At the moment, there is no information on whether or not the IHU variant tends to escape the antibody protection created after undergoing vaccination or natural infection.