Good explanation of Delta infectiousness.
https://twitter.com/angie_rasmussen/status/1415672461111271424
Basically, it’s not the difference in the S protein that makes it so transmissable but it’s much more rapid reproduction.
“-People infected with delta test positive more quickly following exposure, suggesting more rapid viral growth.
-The viral loads (by PCR Ct) are 1000 times higher in delta when first detected...”
Link to study in thread (linked to thread because the discussion helps us laymen undertand.)
Thanks. That makes sense. Because of their high viral loads delta infected people are exhaling large amounts of virus and now with masks off everywhere I see, this won’t bode well.
But the difference in the S protein explains why it’s able to evade the immune system among vaccinated people.
From https://gvn.org/covid-19/delta-b-1-617-2/
(Delta) Variant is defined by 19R, (G142D), 156del, 157del, R158G, L452R, T478K, D614G, P681R, D950N mutations in the spike protein.
Several of these mutations may impact on immune responses directed towards the key antigenic regions of receptor binding protein (452 and 478) and deletion of part of the N terminal domain (156 and 157).
It’s too much of a coincidence for the delta to have two separate mutations - one that makes it more transmissible, and two, which makes it escape vaccines. It’s a recipe for massive spread and a proportionally higher death toll to go with it. Then you look at where it originated - India, a country at war with China. After India got ravaged in the second wave (delta) a CCP official tweeted a photo mocking India’s Covid cases. I just don’t believe it’s a random mutation.