How does the South African variant of the coronavirus react to the plasma of convalescents? “It’s very disturbing”

The South African variant of the coronavirus is of increasing concern among scientists. The pathogen’s response to antibodies, including those derived from the plasma of convalescents, is of concern. Scientists also suspect that it may cause COVID-19 recurrences. And they have reasons for this.

1. The South African variant is not more lethal, but is 2 times more contagious than the previously dominant SARS-CoV-XNUMX strain
2. Scientists: Serum antibodies neutralized the 501Y.V2 variant much worse than other forms of coronavirus that have been circulating before
3. Studies have shown that the RPA variant of the coronavirus contains mutations that weaken the action of antibodies present in the plasma of convalescents
4. More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Coronavirus mutation from South Africa – «it’s 50 percent. more capable of transmitting »

The South African variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, dubbed 510Y.V2, is spreading around the world. It was discovered in October and has since been confirmed in more than 20 countries. The South African variant reached e.g. to Great Britain, Botswana, France, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands.

As recently reported by South African experts, this variant is not more lethal, but is 2 times more contagious than the previously dominant strain of SARS-CoV-XNUMX. – Strain 510Y.V2 «is 50 percent. more capable of transmission “, but” nothing indicates that it is more dangerous “- said prof. Salim Abdul Karim, epidemiologist and co-chair of the science committee at South Africa’s Ministry of Health.

1. Four variants of the coronavirus keep scientists awake at night. Why?

Experts are concerned about other issues – how 510Y.V2 responds to antibodies, whether vaccines will protect against it, and therefore whether mutations present in 501Y.V2 may be responsible for reinfection. Let us remind you that a few days ago there was information that in South Africa there were 4 thousand. potential re-infections with COVID-19.

South African variant of the coronavirus: plasma of convalescents less effective

Compared to the British variant of the coronavirus, which has recently been loud, the South African form has more physical changes in the structure of the so-called S protein. Recall that this protein creates characteristic protrusions / spikes on the surface of the virus and, importantly, mediates the penetration of the pathogen into our cells.

Scientists are particularly concerned about a mutation called E484K. Associate professor at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in South Africa, Penny Moore, recently described it as “alarming”. Scientists are concerned that it may reduce the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. E484K is said to be an “escape mutation” because it is suspected that it may be able to escape some vaccine-produced antibodies.

1. Vaccines Protect Against South Africa’s Coronavirus Variant? “We should be concerned”

Scientists also wonder if the ability to avoid an immune response could explain the rapid spread of the pathogen. The 501Y.V2 virus dominated the second wave of infections in South Africa. At the peak of infections at the beginning of 2021, there were 21 people in this country. infections per day (then this number dropped to 12).

Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/south-africa/

Tulio de Oliveira, a bioinformatist from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban and virologist Alex Sigal from the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban (a city in South Africa) decided to explore the problem. Together with other scientists, they isolated the 501Y.V2 viruses from people infected with this variant of the pathogen and treated them with plasma obtained from six convalescents who overcame COVID-19 caused by other versions of the virus (recall that these people’s plasma contains antibodies against SARS-CoV- 2, it is believed that they can neutralize or even block the pathogen in patients).

What did the research show? Researchers found that serum antibodies neutralized the 501Y.V2 variant much worse than other forms of coronavirus that have been circulating before. “This is very disturbing,” admitted Tulio de Oliveira.

Mutations present in 501Y.V2 responsible for reinfections?

Penny Moore virologist went a step further. The scientist and his team studied the effects of plasma on various spike mutations found in 501Y.V2. This was achieved thanks to a ‘pseudovirus’ – a modified form of HIV that infects cells using a protein found in SARS-CoV-2.

The experiment showed that the RPA variant of the coronavirus contains mutations that weaken the action of antibodies present in the plasma of convalescents. Moreover, pseudoviruses with the full 501Y.V2 mutation package were fully resistant to serum in 21 out of 44 survivors.

According to Tulio de Oliveira, there is evidence that several re-infections with the 501Y.V2 virus have occurred in South Africa. (A few days ago, it was reported that the country had more than 4 coronavirus infections, potentially reinfected, scientists are trying to determine if it is the new mutation that causes reinfection).

It seems increasingly likely that the ability of the 501Y.V2 variant to spread to sites heavily affected by previous COVID-19 waves is driven in part by its ability to avoid antibodies that developed in response to earlier versions of the pathogen. Determining whether mutations present in 501Y.V2 are responsible for reinfection is now a top research priority. “If that’s the case, the whole idea of ​​herd immunity would become a pipe dream,” notes Tulio de Oliveira.

South African researchers are also about to test 501Y.V2’s response to serum from people who participated in the COVID-19 vaccine trial. Similar studies are conducted in laboratories around the world.

You may be interested in:

1. Side effects from COVID-19 vaccines. How common are they? How many were recorded in Poland?
2. When should you not get vaccinated against COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]
3. How to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination? Now you will also register via SMS [EXPLAIN]

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.