New coronavirus mutation discovered in Croatia: Brazilian strain has also been isolated

Photo: Tanjug/Tara Radovanovic

The scientific team from the Laboratory for Advanced Genomics of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute has identified the presence of a mutation of the Brazilian strain in Croatia, 24sata writes.

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The mutation in the E484K protein spike was first identified in the South African variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and has now also been identified in Croatia.

The scientific team of the Laboratory for Advanced Genomics of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute (IRB), led by Dr. Oliver Vugrek, identified the presence of the mutation of the Brazilian strain in Croatia.

Out of a total of 50 analyzed samples, the mutation was confirmed in the protein spike at the E484K position in one sample, which was determined in the Brazilian strain of coronavirus, i.e., in variant B.1.1.28, the Rudjer Boskovic Institute announced.

These samples were collected and analyzed during December 2020, and January and February 2021. The samples were collected from three Croatian cities - Zagreb, Cakovec and Osijek, and the Brazilian strain was confirmed in a sample from Zagreb, which was taken on January 30, 2021.

In addition to the Brazilian strain, the presence of a mutation in the protein spike at the N501Y position, that is, the so called British strain, B1.1.7, has not not confirmed in the analyzed samples.

"The E484K mutation in itself is not a new variant, it is a mutation that occurs in different strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for example in the South African (B.1.351) and Brazilian (B.1.1.28) variants," explained DR. Oliver Vugrek, head of research and the Laboratory for Advanced Genomics of the IRB, which was the first to establish the existence of the so-called Brazilian strain in Croatia.

(Telegraf.rs)