What is a 'new coronavirus mutant strain'?

Professor Ed Fail of the University of Bath, who specializes in molecular epidemiology, explains 'what is a mutant strain in the first place' about a mutant strain of the new coronavirus that is rampant in the United Kingdom and Brazil.

Coronavirus variants: how did they evolve and what do they mean?
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-variants-how-did-they-evolve-and-what-do-they-mean-153405

The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continued to spread worldwide throughout 2020, but since December 2020, 'strongly infectious mutants' have been rampant. In Manaus, Brazil, where a new mutant strain was found, the collapse of medical care is becoming more serious, and ' selection of life ' is being carried out. According to Professor Fail, Manaus no longer has enough ventilators to reach all critically ill patients, and only morphine is given to patients who are considered 'nothing to help'. That thing.

《Brazil》 Manaus City “Hospital becomes a choking room due to lack of oxygen” = National shock to the reality of medical collapse = Emergency transfer of more than 230 people to other states – If you know Brazil, Nikkey Shimbun WEB
https://www.nikkeyshimbun.jp/2021/210116-11brasil.html

A wide variety of mutant strains of the new coronavirus have been confirmed, but as of January 2021, the 'British type', 'South African type', and the aforementioned Manaus are prevalent. There are three types of 'Brazilian type'. Although these three types have been found on different continents, some mutations are common.

Of the three species, there are mutations that are shared by only two species, but what is common to all three species is a mutation in the spike protein called 'N501Y'. N501Y has the ability to strengthen the binding between the virus itself and human cells during infection, and is expected to be affected by other mutations and significantly amplify its ability. 'Why are it affected by other mutations?' Is unknown.

The British type has 23 types of mutations, and these mutations have different degrees of influence on infectivity, etc., but because there is an 'interaction between mutations' called ' epistasis ', the risk of each mutation is increased. It is difficult to estimate separately. In addition, it is thought that there was a process of 'mutation increasing one by one' before having 23 types of mutations, but there are mutant strains that are intermediate between the new coronavirus and the British type. It has not been discovered, and the process of mutation is a missing link .

Professor Fail pointed out that the immunity of the human body may have affected the appearance of these mutants. Among the theories explaining the cause of the British type, the hypothesis of the British research team that 'a mutation occurred in the body of a chronic patient who received immunotherapy to administer plasma of a patient who has already recovered' is the most valid. Comment that it looks like. In addition, the Brazilian form occurred in Manaus, which is said to have even infected 76% of the total population, suggesting that high levels of herd immunity may have affected peplomer mutations. It was.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan announced on January 18, 2021 that 'three men and women who had no travel history and no contact with an unspecified number of people were infected with the British mutant strain', and the new coronavirus mutation Community-acquired strains have already begun.

About the outbreak of patients with new coronavirus infection (mutant strain)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_16152.html

'The mutants are causing concern, but I'm convinced that the vaccine will eventually end the pandemic. At this stage, there is no evidence that the vaccine is ineffective against the mutants. '.