Sturdier proteins may have led to faster spread of some coronavirus variants: Scientists, Science News

The spike protein of the novel coronavirus, which allows it to capture human cells, is more stable in faster-spreading strains of the virus, such as those first reported in the UK and South Africa, compared to original pathogen from Wuhan, China, says new study.

Researchers, including those from Boston Children’s Hospital in the U.S. evaluated the structure of the coronavirus spike protein down to the atomic level, and found how it altered with the mutation of D614G, which is behavior by Brazil, South Africa and UK variants of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus.

The results, published in the journal Science, showed that the mutation makes the spike more stable compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 virus from Wuhan, allowing the variants to spread faster.

According to the scientists, the spike proteins in the original virus would bind to the ACE2 receptor on human cells, then significantly alter shape, fold into themselves and allow its virus dissolves its membrane by host cells.

However, they said the spikes would sometimes change shape too quickly and fall apart before the virus could attach to cells.

While this slowed down the virus, the researchers said that this change in shape also made it more difficult for the human immune system to contain the virus.

“Because the original spike protein was released, it was not good enough to stimulate a strong neutral antibody response,” said study co-author Bing Chen of Boston Children’s Hospital.

In the variable forms, the experts stated that the mutation stabilizes the spike by inhibiting the premature shape change and making the spikes bind weaker to the ACE2 receptor.

According to the researchers, since these spikes are less likely to fall apart prematurely, the virus as a whole is rendered more infectious.

“Say the original virus has 100 spikes. Due to shape instability, only 50 percent of them are probably active. In the G614 versions, you probably have 90 percent that are functional, so though they don’t connect like well, the more chances you have of getting infected, ”Chen explained.

Based on the findings, the scientists suggested that reconstituted vaccines include the code for this mutant spike protein.

They believe that more stable spike formulations may make vaccines based on these virus proteins more likely to receive neutral immune antibodies.

(Supported by organizations)

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