Coronavirus Study: Sturdy Spike Protein Behind the Rapid Spread of Variants

03/21/2021 Science



According to a new study, the stearier spike protein may be the secret to the ability of the new Covid-19 variant to disperse faster than the original new strain.

The study, led by Professor Bing Chen, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital Spital, examined changes in the spike protein associated with the D614G mutation, performed by variants in Brazil, South Africa and the UK. .

All of these types are known to spread more easily than the original strain.

According to these findings, which were published in the academic journal Science, The original strain spike protein binds properly to the human host’s ACE2 receptors just before it collapses on the spot, meaning it will not blend in properly with the cells. But it seems that this issue has been improved in the D614G transformation-carrying variants. However, these spikes do not bind well with the original variant.

“Say the original virus has 100 spikes,” Chen said in a press release. “Because of the shape instability, you can have only 50 percent of them functional. In G614 variants, you may have 90% functional, so even if they don’t bind, you have a higher chance of infection.”

When the news of the variant came out for the first time, many expressed concern that the existing COVID-19 vaccines would not be able to protect against it. However, Chen and his team said this should not be a concern, as any vaccine based on the spike – and the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all based on the spike – is actually more likely to be vaccinated against the virus.

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