South African variant: why so many mutations

B.1.1.529: it is the code that marks the new variant of South Africa and that is frightening because it has 32 mutations on the Spike protein, that is about double compared to the Delta variant and triple compared to Alpha. What is the reason for this abundance of mutations arriving from Africa? Could it be an environmental issue? How much do we need to worry about? We asked Carlo Federico Perno, virologist and director of the Microbiology department of the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital in Rome, and to Stefano Vella, infectious disease specialist and Professor of Global Health, Catholic University – Rome.