“The mutational process is continuous, in viruses, in bacteria it is embedded in its internal genotype, that is, there is already a predisposition.
These mutations occur continuously - like beads jumping over in a kaleidoscope, ”explained Zhemchugov.
He added that further "new designs of viruses are selected with those mutations that give him an advantage both over the external environment and over their predecessors, fellow viruses."
According to the expert, this mutational process does not stop, now the selection factor has turned on, that is, the collective immunity that was created, including to the Wuhan strain.
“And this includes the natural immunity of those who have been ill, including the immunity created by vaccines, this all together also puts pressure on the virus, on selection, so that it receives new mutations that will protect it from the action of vaccine immunity and the immunity of those who have been ill, which and happens.
We see repeated diseases with the delta strain, which now prevails more and more, that is, it displaces all its predecessors, ”the specialist added.
Zhemchugov stressed that it is worth getting vaccinated.
“Maybe a little earlier than we would like, but half a year, it seems to me, is the most normal option for both those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated.
If the collective immunity on the planet is not sufficient in a short time to completely suppress the pandemic, then it is possible that the virus will produce new mutations, "the interlocutor of RT concluded.
Earlier, the director of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, Vasily Akimkin, said that one case of the lambda strain and three cases of the mu strain were detected in Russia.
The dominant strain of coronavirus in Russia is "delta", Interfax reports, citing Akimkin's words.