Shi, Z.L. (Zheng-Li)

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    The importance of naturally attenuated SARS-CoV-2in the fight against COVID-19
    (Wiley, 2020) Michiels, T. (Thomas); Deleuze, J.F. (Jean-Francois); Sluijs, P. (Peter) van der; Danchin, A. (Antoine); Timmis, K.N. (Kenneth N.); Acosta-Alvear, D. (Diego); Delaunay-Moisan, A. (Agnès); Moore, E.R.B. (Edward R. B.); Tillett, D. (Daniel); Aragón-Amonárriz, T. (Tomás); Sitia, R. (Roberto); Braakman, I. (Ineke); Vicenzi, E. (Elisa); Collet, J.F. (Jean-Francois); Nixon-Abell, J. (Jonathon); Siccardi, A.G. (Antonio G.); Armengaud, J. (Jean); Rossello-Mora, R. (Ramon); Anken, E. (Eelco) van; Lucas, S. (Sophie); Blondel, M. (Marc); Courcol, R. (René); Thuret, J.Y. (Jean-Yves); Arias, C. (Carolina); Shi, Z.L. (Zheng-Li); Lavigne, J.P. (Jean-Philippe); Toledano, M.B. (Michel B.)
    The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is wreaking havoc throughout the world and has rapidly become a global health emergency. A central question concerning COVID-19 is why some individuals become sick and others not. Many have pointed already at variation in risk factors between individuals. However, the variable outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infections may, at least in part, be due also to differences between the viral subspecies with which individuals are infected. A more pertinent question is how we are to overcome the current pandemic. A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 would offer significant relief, although vaccine developers have warned that design, testing and production of vaccines may take a year if not longer. Vaccines are based on a handful of different designs (i), but the earliest vaccines were based on the live, attenuated virus. As has been the case for other viruses during earlier pandemics, SARS-CoV-2 will mutate and may naturally attenuate over time (ii). What makes the current pandemic unique is that, thanks to state-of-the-art nucleic acid sequencing technologies, we can follow in detail how SARSCoV-2 evolves while it spreads. We argue that knowledge of naturally emerging attenuated SARS-CoV-2 variants across the globe should be of key interest in our fight against the pandemic.