Recently a new variant of Covid known as XEC was discovered by researchers in Berlin who deemed that not only was this new strand of covid a descendant of Omicron but also a recombinant of strains KP.3.3 and KS.1.1. Both KP.3.3 and KS.1.1 are descendants of Omicron which then mutated into Sub-variant BA.2.86 which then further mutated into JN.1. Where it gets interesting is that JN.1 splits into KS.1.1 and KP.3 which further evolves into KP.3.3. All of the strains are slight variants of omicron however two of the variants recombined to form XEC. This process takes place where genetic material from two organisms combines to in theory make a more successful organism.
The process of recombination takes place through the reconstruction of DNA using enzymes known as Restriction Enzymes. In relation to what we learned in AP Bio DNA acts as substrate which in turn binds to the active site on said restriction enzyme. Every Restriction enzyme can only bind to a very specific active site. This binding then leads to the removal of the target substrate from the DNA chain therefore isolating it. It is then possible to transfer this isolated piece of DNA to another cell where it can then be fit into the DNA of said cell by using an enzyme to break apart the alpha helix of the new DNA and inserting the new strand. This reaction is only easy to produce into organisms with non nucleic DNA because the process of recombination in organisms with nucleic DNA is much more complex and requires additional steps. For example, in eukaryotic cells, the presence of a nucleus and tightly wound chromatin makes accessing and modifying DNA more challenging. Scientists must use more sophisticated techniques, such as using CRISPR-Cas9 systems or other gene-editing tools, to accurately target and integrate new DNA segments.
The process of recombination in viruses like COVID-19 is somewhat different, as viruses rely on host cells to replicate and do not have their own nucleic machinery. In the case of XEC, the recombination likely occurred when two different strains—KP.3.3 and KS.1.1—infected the same host cell simultaneously. This co-infection created an opportunity for their genetic material to mix during replication. The resulting recombinant variant, XEC, may have acquired advantageous traits from both parent strains, potentially enhancing its ability to spread, evade immune defenses, or cause illness.
Understanding this process is critical in tracking the evolution of variants and developing effective countermeasures, such as vaccines and treatments. This is important to us at friends academy because covid is still raging in our world harming people. Therefore we need to do anything we can in order to prevent the spread, learn how to By studying the molecular mechanisms behind recombination, scientists can better predict the emergence of new variants and assess their potential impact on public health. If you have any questions about the nature of covid strains or covid vaccines feel free to reach out or leave a comment. Your feedback is much appreciated. Thank you for reading.
Leave a Reply