BEIJING – Chinese scientists have conducted a study on a mutant strain of COVID-19 that has shown a 100% fatality rate in mice that were engineered with similar genetic makeup to humans. The study, which was shared by researchers in Beijing, revealed that the virus, called GX_P2V, attacked the brains of the mice and caused their deaths within just eight days. The mutated strain is derived from GX/2017, a coronavirus that was discovered in Malaysian pangolins in 2017.
According to the study, GX_P2V infected various parts of the mice’s bodies, including the lungs, bones, eyes, tracheas, and brains. The infected mice exhibited symptoms such as rapid weight loss, a hunched posture, sluggish movement, and the turning of their eyes completely white before they died. The study suggests that this mutated strain poses a spillover risk to humans and provides a model for understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-related viruses.
The mortality rate observed in the study is higher than any previously reported results involving COVID-19-related viruses. However, the researchers acknowledge that more research is needed to determine the impact of the virus on human beings. Some experts have criticized the study, calling it scientifically pointless and raising concerns about the biosafety level at which the research was conducted.
It is important to note that this study is not connected to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was previously linked to lab leak theories surrounding the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. US intelligence agencies have found no direct evidence to support the claim that the virus leaked from the lab, though they have not ruled out the possibility of it originating from a different source.
The origin of COVID-19 remains unclear, and further research is necessary to understand the implications of this mutated strain. The study serves as a reminder of the ongoing risks posed by coronaviruses and the need for continued vigilance in monitoring and understanding their behavior.