Scientists involved in an international collaborative study have warned about new emerging strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can evade the human immune response. The emergence of new strains has occurred because of a mutation in the spike protein that can become a major concern. Researchers from the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Australia, and Italy have found a new mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, known as the N439K mutation . According to the study, it is becoming a major concern as the new strain containing the N439K mutation has a very high affinity to the host cell receptors.
The enhanced invasive ability confers high virulence to the new strains and can have a major impact on vaccine development, disease severity, and reinfection. The SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding motif (RBM) is the most divergent region. Mutation in the motif enhances viral…
