SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and their Viral Variants

Mutations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occur spontaneously during replication. Thousands of mutations have accumulated and continue to since the emergence of the virus. As novel mutations continue appearing at the scene, naturally, new variants are increasingly observed. Since the first occurrence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, a wide variety of drug compounds affecting the binding sites of the virus have begun to be studied. As the drug and vaccine trials are continuing, it is of utmost importance to take into consideration the SARS-CoV-2 mutations and their respective frequencies since these data could lead the way to multi-drug combinations. The lack of effective therapeutic and preventive strategies against human coronaviruses (hCoVs) necessitates research that is of interest to the clinical applications. The reason why the mutations in glycoprotein S lead to vaccine escape is related to the location of the mutation and the affinity of the protein. At the same time, it can be said that variations should occur in areas such as the receptor-binding domain (RBD), and vaccines and antiviral drugs should be formulated by targeting more than one viral protein. In this review, a literature survey in the scope of the increasing SARS-CoV-2 mutations and the viral variations is conducted. In the light of current knowledge, the various disguises of the mutant SARS-CoV-2 forms and their apparent differences from the original strain are examined as they could possibly aid in finding the most appropriate therapeutic approaches.

Mercury in whole blood of persons living in a polluted region of Turkey

Hg content of whole blood has been increasing due to industrial pollution. The best means for Hg analysis is the cold vapour method. An absolute sensitivity of 0.1 ng was attained with the experimental setup in our laboratory. Its applicability was checked by A-13 freeze-dried animal blood standard reference material. The method was used to measure the levels of Hg in whole blood samples taken from eight persons living in a polluted region. Hg contents of the whole blood samples were found to lie within the range 11.66-30.83 micrograms/mL. The variables affecting the analysis, such as reducing agent type and amount, reaction time, carrier gas flow rate, reaction vessel volume, and instrumental parameters were studied and optimized.