Experts estimated the probability of "self-destruction" of the delta strain in Japan

The delta strain of CORONAVIRUS in Japan could have self-destructed due to the fact that too many mutations have accumulated in the nsp14 protein, which is responsible for the ability of the virus to correct mutations. This was stated by DOCTOR of Biology, Professor of the School of Systems Biology at George Mason University Ancha Baranova in an interview with Lenta.ru.

“Since there was one delta in Japan, according to Japanese colleagues, mutations in the nsp14 protein have accumulated in it. <...> But since nsp14 itself had “deteriorated”, it could not fix anything, errors began to multiply uncontrollably. And, in the end, the virus came to a sad end for itself, ”said Baranova. She also added that the "corrupted" delta strain in Japan eventually resulted in copies with weakened mutation-correction capabilities.

As other reasons for the possible disappearance of the delta strain, she named the lack of a wide variety of strains in the country, the isolation of Japan as an island nation, and strict adherence to anti-coronavirus measures by the population.

However, the HEAD of the scientific group for the development of new methods for diagnosing human diseases, the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, Kamil Khafizov, said that it was difficult for him to imagine a situation in which the virus mutated so that it suddenly lost the ability to reproduce, but at the same time multiplied widely among the population. “I'm afraid the reality looks very different. So far, we note that the “delta” line in all countries is constantly mutating and dissociating into daughter sub-lines, which can potentially become even more dangerous, ”Khafizov said (quoted by RIA Novosti).