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Meet the New Strains

In 2020, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, changed the world. A large coronavirus looms behind the planet earth, its angry pink eyes glaring down at it. Below, more viruses displaying statistics: Over 100 million cases; over 2 million deaths; multiple lockdowns; millions unemployed.
From among a crowded pile of viruses, a new one with slightly different coloring pops up with “hands“ on its hips. Above it, the text: “As it spread like wildfire around the globe, the virus changed, too.
A cell with visible organelles before a long single stranded genome. Some of the sections are underlined as if marked for typos.
An animated proofreading enzyme wearing a green visor runs along a length of genome as it spits out a copy. One reason for this relatively low mutation rate may be that coronaviruses have a proofreading enzyme that catches and corrects errors as the virus replicates. The influenza virus, which lacks the proofreading enzyme, mutates about twice as often.

Description

As it spreads throughout the world, the virus that causes Covid-19 has been changing. Scientists are tracking those changes, hoping to stay one step ahead of worrisome strains.

2021 Folio Award Honorable Mention for Visual Storytelling.

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