Recently, a new study conducted by scientists in the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands revealed key details of how the genetic mutations carried by the new coronavirus play a role in evading immunity. The study found that all mutations occurred at the receptor binding site on the viral spike protein. Other sites on the receptor binding domain are not affected.
Studies have shown that future vaccines and antibody-based therapies can provide broader protection against the new coronavirus and its variants by inducing or using antibodies against parts of the virus located outside the binding site of the virus receptor. The results of the study were published in the May 20th issue of "Science". The new coronavirus variants that this study focuses on include the B.1.1.7 variant found in the UK, the B.1.351 variant found in South Africa, the P.1 variant found in Brazil, and the B.1.617 variant found in India. Researchers mainly focused on three mutations in the spike protein of the new coronavirus: K417N, E484K, and N501Y. These mutations exist alone or in combination in most major new coronavirus variants. The receptor binding site of the new coronavirus is where the virus attaches to the host cell. The researchers tested representative neutralizing antibodies of the main categories, which target receptor binding sites and the general area around them. 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. They found that when mutations are present, many antibodies lose their ability to effectively bind and neutralize viruses. 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. The researchers specifically pointed out that virus-neutralizing antibodies that target two regions other than the receptor binding site are largely unaffected by these three mutations.
"This research 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." The lead author of the study Meng Yuan ( Transliteration) said the doctor.
