One target site on SARS-2 matched a particular miRNA – called miR197 – that was found to be present in very high levels in patients with cardiovascular complications or with respiratory viral infections. The miR197 binding site on the virus had been independently mutated nearly 40 times since March this year. “We need direct experimental approaches using live virus, as well further study of the transmission of such mutants around the world,” he said. “Even so, it was surprising to find how often the miR197 target site had been mutated in different SARS-2 isolates. This may be useful for weakening the virus for vaccine research and has been successfully performed experimentally for other respiratory viruses.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 09, 2020 06:08 UTC