As viruses spread, small errors - called mutations - arise in the genetic material during replication. Many of these mutations are repaired or die off as the virus continues to move through a population. Mutations that enhance the virus's ability to replicate, transmit, or survive in a host allow the virus to spread more quickly through a population, or become more resistant to immune system defenses, thereby increasing the mutations' prevalence and creating a new strain of the virus. The purpose of this book is to discuss how variants develop, how researchers identify and sequence variants, and how this information can be utilized by public health officials, government agencies, and medical practitioners to make decisions. The book examines the ways the government can better coordinate its approach to best serve the American people through this pandemic and beyond.
Author(s): Richard D. Hylton
Series: Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 216
City: New York
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1
COVID–19 Variants and Evolving Research Needs(
Purpose
Witnesses
Overarching Questions
Variants in the United States
B.1.617 and the Importance of Vaccines in Squelching Variants
Variant Testing
Disease Modeling and Forecasting
Federal Activities on Variants
Statement by Representative Bill Foster, Chairman, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives
Written Statement by Representative Bill Foster, Chairman, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Committee on Science, Space and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives
Statement by Representative Jay Obernolte, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives
Written Statement by Representative Jay Obernolte, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives
Statement by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives
Written Statement by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives
Statement of Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, Director of Caprisa
Written Statement of Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, Director of CAPRISA
Background
Transmissibility
Disease Severity
Escape from Natural Immunity
Escape from Vaccine-Induced Immunity
Responses to Questions from the Committee
Annexure 1.
“SARS-CoV-2 variants: the need for urgent public health action beyond vaccines”
Task Force Members and Staff
Task Force Members
Secretariat and Task Force Staff
Key Points
The Problem
Need for Urgent Action
Statement of Dr. Nathan Grubaugh, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
Written Statement of Dr. Nathan Grubaugh, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
Statement of Dr. Stephen Streiffer, Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology, Argonne National Laboratory
Written Statement of Dr. Stephen Streiffer, Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology, Argonne National Laboratory
Accomplishments of the NVBL in Fighting COVID-19
Molecular Design for Medical Therapeutics
Development and Evaluation of COVID-19 Testing
Epidemiological and Transportation Modeling
Viral Fate and Transport
Advanced Manufacturing
Basic Research Underlies COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 Variants: Strategy and Challenges
Sequencing and Monitoring Viral Variants
Analyzing the Virus’ “Family Tree”
Identifying Variants of Concern
Mitigating Impacts of New Variants
Challenges and Hurdles
Conclusion
Statement of Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Written Statement of Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Current Situation
Data Sharing
Modeling and Analytics
Future Preparedness
Discussion
Appendix: Answers to Post-Hearing Questions
Responses by Dr. Stephen Streiffer
Chapter 2
COVID-19 Variants: Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics(
Introduction
Tracking and Studying Variants
Variants and Vaccines
Variants and Diagnostics
Variants and Therapeutics
Chapter 3
SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions(
Key Definitions
Key Points
How Variants Are Classified
Variants Being Monitored (VBM)
Variant of Interest (VOI)
Variant of Concern (VOC)
Footnotes for Variants of Concern
Variant of High Consequence (VOHC)
Characteristics of Selected SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Substitutions of Concern for SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Therapies
Unweighted Proportions of SARS-CoV-2 Substitutions of Therapeutic Concern
Footnotes for Unweighted Proportions of SARS-CoV-2 Substitutions of Therapeutic Concern
References
Chapter 4
Understanding Variants(
How Variants Work
How Variants Change
What We Are Doing
Important Ways to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
Chapter 5
What You Need to Know About Variants(
What You Need to Know
Variants Are Expected
Variants of Concern
Omicron - B.1.1.529, BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4 and BA.5
We Have the Tools to Fight COVID-19
Vaccines
Masks
When to Wear a Mask
Testing
Chapter 6
Vaccinations > Variants(
Reported Cases
SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Testing
Vaccinations
Hospitalizations
New Hospital Admissions
COVID-NET: Trends in Hospitalization Rates in Children Ages 11 Years and Younger Not Eligible for Vaccination
Deaths
Chapter 7
A View from the States: Governors Respond to the Omicron Variant(
Statement of Governor Jared Polis, State of Colorado
Statement of Governor Pedro Pierluisi, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Statement of Mayor Muriel Bowser, District of Columbia
Statement of Governor Pete Ricketts, State of Nebraska
Statement of Governor Jay Inslee, State of Washington
Chapter 8
Science Brief: Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant(
Omicron (B.1.1.529) Characteristics
Public Health Response to the Omicron Variant
Chapter 9
COVID-19 Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know(
Omicron in the United States
What We Know about Omicron
Spread
Symptoms
Severe Illness
Vaccines
Treatments
We Have the Tools to Fight Omicron
Vaccines
Masks
Testing
What CDC is Doing to Learn about Omicron
Virus Characteristics
Variant Surveillance
Science Brief
Emergence of Omicron
Index
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