Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2, Mutation in the Spike Protein Used by the Virus to Connect to Humans … [+]
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Just when you’ve heard so much about the top 3 changes in the news circle – the UK Variant (B.1.1.7), the South African version (B.1.3.5.1) and the American variant South (P.1 variant), and at least one mutation – E484K— that has been involved in South Africa and now the UK variant, a new “homegrown” mutation comes here in the US known as “677”, or more formally Q677P, recently identified. by researchers in the US
It is unclear whether this modification, which is now marked in seven series or modifications of Covid-19, makes it more mobile. But there is growing concern that this potential could exist.
According to a new precursor (not reviewed by peers), all of these mutations appear to affect the same region of the spike protein (amino acid position # 677) – the an area that goes down on the surface of the virus – that is what it uses to adhere to affected cells.
The scientists had already reviewed genomic sequences in a repository called GISAID, a worldwide database to share and share genetic sequences regarding Covid -19, but the seven new series or changes appeared at the end of January when 2 independent SARS appeared- Discover CoV-2 genomic study programs – University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and Health Sciences Louisiana State University in Shreveport – the both larger numbers of viruses with Q677P mutation, with a large increase in samples from late 2020 through mid-January.
One question is whether the 677 mutation will have no effect on the ability of available vaccines to prevent “immune escape” from neutralizing antibodies associated with the mutations contained in these variable variants. We know that researchers have seen the virus try to evolve to increase more transmission capacity and eventually survive.
But whether a single mutation, the 677 in this case, has the potential to escape neutralization of antibodies or even increase proliferation with mechanisms that are so easily accessible to cells through the ACE2 receptor still unclear, with some suspicions that there may still be potential. That said, one expert argues that it may not be so likely.
“There is not enough information about this move [677] available, but in general, it is not a matter of single mutation causing immune deficiencies, ”said Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease physician, and Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. And, for other Covid-19 mutations identified for information, “484 [E484K] it won’t happen by itself, ”he said.
However, one co – author of the preview, Vaughn Cooper, told CNN that the location of the booth in the anchor area of the spike protein was in a difficult position. “The Spike piece is important because of its proximity to an area key to violence. We actually think that these mutations are very rare (compared to other types of mutations), but they are chosen unequally when they occur. ”
Dr. Jeremy Kamil, lead author of the study, told the New York Times, “I think there is a clear name for the benefits of evolution. ”And, in this case, Kamil was referring to the process of homogenous evolution involved – something that ultimately enhances the potential of any organism.
While Charles Darwin identified homosexual evolution in animals, virologists have also noticed that this process can occur in viruses, with HIV for example when several species of viruses have passed from onions and monkeys to humans. , getting HIV-like strains as they spread among human populations.
To make it easier to describe and identify subspecies of this imitation within the seven series, scientists have introduced bird names to differentiate them from each other, using names such as Robin 1, Robin 2, Yellowhammer, Pelican, Bluebird, Quail and Mockingbird.
Robin 1 now seen in more than 30 states in the U.S., mostly in the Midwest. Robin 2 appeared in early October from a sample in Alabama, just in the southeastern U.S. Another series, named Pelican, was first identified in a sample from Oregon, but was later found in 12 additional U.S. states as well as in Europe (Denmark and Switzerland), Australia, and also in India .
Pelican was the first subline or variant of particular interest to the researchers as it detected nearly 28% of viral samples from Louisiana, and 11% from New Mexico. The rest of the Q677P subscales contain less than 100 genetic sequences, including Yellowhammer, mainly in the south-eastern US, Bluebird, in the northeastern USA, Quail found in the southwest and northeast, and Mockingbird, located mainly in the southern and eastern states.
With increasing, but still not extensive, genomic analysis, the ability to identify these subtypes has been very limited. There is the potential to detect more of these variables for sure as sensitivity increases.
“These changes were not detected until mid-August 2020, but as of 03 February 2021 there are over 2,327 of the 102,462 genomes deposited in GISAID from the US,” the authors of the preface wrote -beating.
This certainly deserves continued attention as we hope genomic exploration will increase over the coming months.