Vaccines and Immunology

Viral Mutations and Variants

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Mutations are the change of sequence of an organism’s genetic code. Viruses mutate more rapidly than human cells. Mutations vary in severity from having zero consequence to majorly altering a protein and its function. Viruses constantly change from one mutation to another and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some variants emerge and some disappear while others persist. Scientists and researchers monitor the variants and classify them into variants that need to be monitored, variants that can cause consequences and variants of concern. The monitoring will also be based on how fast the variant spreads, its symptoms, the treatment procedure and how well vaccines protect against the variant.  As long as the viruses exist, new variants will continue to emerge.

Related associations and societies: Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS), Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) , Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), Clinical Immunology Society, Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF), Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society(PIDS), National Medical Association (NMA), Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.