Discovery of structural details of new coronavirus variants evading immunity

Recently, a new study conducted by scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in the United States and collaborating researchers in Germany and the Netherlands revealed key details of how the genetic mutations carried by the new coronavirus play a role in evading immunity.

The new coronavirus variants that this study focuses on include the B.

Researchers mainly focused on three mutations in the spike protein of the new coronavirus: K417N, E484K, and N501Y.

The receptor binding site of the new coronavirus is where the virus attaches to the host cell.

Using structural biology techniques, the researchers mapped the binding of the neutralizing antibody to the initially circulating strain of the new coronavirus with high resolution to examine how the mutation affects the site where the antibody would otherwise bind and neutralize the virus.

The study emphasizes the fact that the three key viral mutations that the new coronavirus seems to be prone to occur on its own will not change other vulnerable parts of the virus other than the receptor binding site.

"This study means that when designing next-generation vaccines and antibody therapies, we should consider increasing attention to other vulnerable parts of the virus, which are often not affected by the virus's mutant genes.