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Today (1st), 7 more people were confirmed in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil respectively infected with the mutant virus.

Ahead of the domestic vaccination, there are worries about this and that, but I will talk to a medical reporter Cho Dong-chan.



Q. Mutation reinfection 4 months after corona cure?



[Cho Dong-chan/medical journalist (specialist): A 37-year-old Brazilian medical woman was infected with Corona 19 in June of last year and was cured, but four months later, she was infected again.

Genetic analysis revealed that the second virus was a Brazilian mutation.

It is very unusual for a cure to be reinfected in just four months.

I'm worried about this mutant virus.]



Q. Disabling the mutant virus vaccine?



[Cho Dong-chan/medical journalist (specialist): This caser suffered from the second mutant infection lightly and passed, but it is necessary to think about that part.

There are two main types of human defense systems against viruses.

One is the antibody, the frontline army.

Prevents viruses from entering.

The other is immune cells, which can be said to be the rear army fighting against viruses that have already penetrated.

The mutant virus weakens the front arm of the antibody.

The mutant virus can penetrate the cure.

However, the immune cells fighting from the rear fight well even if the mutant virus penetrates.

That's why the National Institutes of Health said that the more mutant viruses appear, the better vaccination is required.]



Q. What vaccine is beneficial for mutant viruses?



[Dong-Chan Jo/Medicine Reporter (Specialist): There are vaccines that are theoretically unfavorable to mutant viruses, but AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Modena vaccines that are expected to be introduced in Korea all activate the rear army, that is, cellular immunity well.

In particular, AstraZeneca published a paper saying that it induces strong cellular immunity.

However, since antibodies that fight in the front are also important, it can be said that vaccine studies using two or more types of viruses as materials can also be made so that antibodies against mutations can be made.]