The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently expressed concern about a new variant of coronavirus originating in South Africa. This new strain is officially named 501Y.V2 due to the identification of the N501Y mutation in the virus’s spike protein, which is responsible for cell penetration. Changes in this spike protein could potentially affect the virus’s ability to infect, cause severe disease, or escape the immunity created by all existing vaccines.
Identifying the New Strain
The 501Y.V2 mutation was also found in the recent UK variant of the virus. However, despite their similar mutation, a phylogenetic analysis determined that these two strains are different. Phylogenetic analysis is a vital scientific method used to trace the evolutionary development of a species or a group of organisms.
Concerns Over Antibody Effectiveness
Preliminary experiments indicate potential issues with this South African variant. Specifically, monoclonal antibodies that were previously successful against SARS-CoV2 are proving less effective against 501Y.V2.
Testing Vaccine’s Effectiveness Against the New Variant
In response to these new findings, scientists are now testing serums from vaccinated individuals in labs across the UK and South Africa. They aim to determine whether existing vaccines can effectively neutralize this new variant.
Genomic Collaboration to Track Virus Evolution
The Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), a WHO-established platform for genome sequence sharing, has played a critical role in monitoring virus evolution. By facilitating international sharing of genome sequences and related clinical and epidemiological data, GISAID allows WHO and its partners to trace the virus’s progression from the start.
The Situation in India
Currently, India has reported 82 instances of the UK variant but none of the South African variant.
Past Mutations and Their Impacts
The D614G mutation enhanced the virus’s ability to attach to human hosts, thereby increasing its infectivity. The N501Y mutant represented a single nucleotide change in the spike protein, which had no impact on disease biology or diagnostics. It also did not demonstrate increased transmission, severity, treatment resistance, or vaccination resistance.
The Implication of Virus Mutation
A mutation refers to a change in the virus’s genetic sequence. For RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2, a mutation represents a change in molecular arrangement. These alterations often occur during the virus’ replication cycle. Mutations that significantly alter protein structure can potentially influence the course of the disease.
Last Modified: February 10, 2024