The South African coronavirus mutant, which has also reached Hungary, is more contagious and cunning

Discovery of the mutant

Variant B.1.351 or 501Y.V2, officially called the South African mutant, was first discovered in South Africa in Nelson Mandela Bay. On November 16, South African researchers routinely examined the virus genome and noted that the variant in question had become dominant in three South African provinces. The South African government announced the discovery on December 18 after further investigation.

How is it different from the previous variants?

As far as we know, the South African mutant has evolved separately from other known mutants (such as the British mutant), but it has also been shown to have modifications similar to the British ones, including modification of the spike protein, the N501Y mutation, which made the most contagious British variant.

This is not as surprising as we might think at first. Virologists have observed that more than once exactly the same mutations develop and become dominant in different areas, that is, the virus develops naturally in this way. Seven very similar mutations in the coronavirus have appeared independently in patients in the United States, and it is easy for the virus to undergo an evolutionary development, during which it becomes more contagious.

However, the South African mutant also has two other worrisome mutations that the British variant does not have: the K417N and E484K modifications.

The importance of the latter was detailed by Gábor Kemenesi in a daily guest article by a virus researcher. As he writes, a multitude of very diverse antibodies are prepared to inactivate the spike protein, thus preventing viral infection. However, these antibodies are not produced in equal amounts at many points in the peak protein, and the virus cannot be inactivated at all points. Therefore, mutations that are at some important point in the peak protein and for which a large number of highly effective neutralizing antibodies can be produced initially will be the most risky for vaccine bypass. Among other things, this change is already encoded as E484K in the South African variant.

On the contrary, this may result in less effective protection against infection, however, it is a comforting fact that the course of the disease is also regulated by another important part of our immune system, cellular immunity. Experience and scientific knowledge to date suggest that this particular cellular immunity, which develops in vaccinated ones, will be of great help to us, even if the virus avoids some of the antibodies.

For flock immunity to develop, a certain proportion of a population must have immunity to the virus at a certain level of infection (index r) for the epidemic to stop naturally, no longer infect the masses. The different models assume the level required to achieve flock immunity at an immunity rate of around 60 to 80 percent.

Chris Murray, a team of epidemiology experts at the University of Washington, has so far modeled the pandemic well, but it completely rewrites previous models that, according to South African research, the virus is more effective than ever at re-infecting those who have ever been infected. This means that flock immunity will also be much more difficult to achieve this way, as if we were fighting “alone” against the original variant.

Where does it spread?

The South African variant spread rapidly and became dominant in southern Africa, but is now present in nearly 50 countries around the world. The U.S. Office of Epidemiology (CDC) is constantly monitoring where cases have been reported and, based on this, collecting a map of which countries are officially present and where there has been an unofficial sign of an onset of a disease. variant of the virus. (Hungary is still in the “unverified” category on this map, but as we know, the South African mutant has already been officially identified here).

In Hungary, on February 26, the Hungarian-owned diagnostic laboratory Neumann Labs announced that its newly introduced PCR test had shown the presence of a variant of the South African coronavirus in Hungary.

On the same day, the national medical director, Cecília Müller, officially announced it at a press conference for the operative strain, adding that the variant is more resistant, with antibodies less capable of fighting it, which is why a person who has previously been infected can easily re-infect.

What vaccines may be less effective against the variant?

Controversial or unconfirmed news circulates about the extent to which the South African mutant reduces the effectiveness of vaccines. In response to the blatant news, several vaccine manufacturers have announced in recent weeks that they are also working to develop a third “booster” dose (examining the need for it) to be used effectively against the South African mutation.

• In early February, news emerged that South Africa would temporarily postpone its vaccination campaign against the British and Swedes. AstraZeneca with a vaccine developed by a pharmaceutical company and the University of Oxford because one study found that the effectiveness of the vaccine was “limited” against the South African version of the coronavirus. A study from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg found that the British vaccine provided only limited protection against the South African variant of the virus in young adults. The British, on the other hand, immediately claimed that there was no evidence that AstraZeneca did not protect against serious diseases, meaning that the vaccine would provide some degree of protection against the virus. Oxah University research leader Sarah Gilbert said they will most likely be ready in the fall with a modified version of their vaccine that would also effectively protect against the South African variant of the coronavirus.
• TO Pfizer / BioNTech In late January, based on the first test results, he said that while the results were “encouraging” and did not indicate the need for a new vaccine, they were bracing for the possibility of a mutation against which vaccination would not it was effective. They also indicated that BioNTech’s development platform is flexible enough to develop new vaccine variants. Already this week the news came that a three-dose version of Pfizer is being tested, which, according to the first results, could increase the amount of antibodies in the blood by 10 to 20 times compared to the second vaccination. The third dose will not be adjusted yet – participants will receive exactly the same vaccine as before. However, they will also test the efficacy of a vaccine specifically against mutants, such as the South African variant, in a third dose.
• According to the US Office of Epidemiology, Modern their vaccine is less effective against the South African variant according to preliminary research. In late January, according to studies conducted at the time, Moderna said its vaccine could neutralize British and South African virus strains, but as a precaution, it would launch a clinical program to strengthen protection against emerging virus variants. On February 25, the manufacturer submitted a candidate vaccine against a new South African variant of the coronavirus to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) for clinical trials.
• TO Sputnik V Russian vaccine maker Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered last month to investigate the vaccine’s effectiveness against various coronavirus mutants. The test results should have been released before March 15, but the manufacturer of the Sputnik V vaccine, which is also used in Hungary, announced on February 27 that tests show the vaccine also provides strong protection against the mutant. South African after revaccination. The results of the studies will be made public shortly.
• Chinese is also allowed in Hungary Sinopharm Their vaccine provides protection, but is less effective against the South African mutant than the parent virus, according to at least a small research sample. Two Chinese COVID vaccines have also been tested under laboratory conditions, however, the study has not yet been validated by other research groups, according to professional standards, this is necessary for the results to be considered accepted in scientific circles.
• In addition to the above, a Novavax and the Johnson and Johnson Additionally, early research on vaccines found that they provide significantly weaker protection against the South African variant.

There was also good news

South African scientists said Wednesday that their experiments show that antibodies produced against a South African variant of the coronavirus (known as 501Y.V2) provide protection against variants that have been developed so far and are likely to develop.

Discovery based on plasma analysis

IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD NEWS TO CONCLUDE THAT AN EXTREMELY DEVELOPED EXTINGUISHED ESPECIALLY AGAINST VARIANT 501Y.V2 MAY BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF VAST VAST

South African experts said.

Antibodies naturally produced by the human body against the South African mutation have also “achieved” good results against the variant identified in Brazil and the virus strains that appeared at the beginning of the pandemic.

Image source source: MTI / Koszticsák Szilárd One AstraZeneca The coronavirus vaccine is included in the Public Health Department of the Budapest Government Office, Budapest XIII. district on February 19, 2021.