A common way by which virus vaccines are made is to introduce a mutation that makes the virus less virulent (i. e. that reduces the severity of infection) and to expose patients to that mutated virus. which sort of mutation would it be safest to introduce to ensure that the virus cannot easily revert to its original, virulent state?

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Biology

Ismael Barnes

30 May, 14:05

A common way by which virus vaccines are made is to introduce a mutation that makes the virus less virulent (i. e. that reduces the severity of infection) and to expose patients to that mutated virus. which sort of mutation would it be safest to introduce to ensure that the virus cannot easily revert to its original, virulent state?

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Dana Morrison · Answer 1

Answer: deletions

It's safer to cause a mutation by deleting the genetic information responsible for the virulence of the virus. This method is used in attenuated vaccines, where the virus is still alive but less virulent. These types of vaccines cannot be used by immunocompromised individuals.