BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE B.1.1.7 variant #SARSCoV2:

Read these 4 key circled sentences from @CovidGenomicsUK on why the mutations are worrisome.

Experts don’t think it will strongly affect vaccines, but some say maybe slightly.

See for details. https://www.cogconsortium.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Report-1_COG-UK_20-December-2020_SARS-CoV-2-Mutations_final_updated2.pdf

2) This table also explains how much the variant B.1.1.7 has been seen recently. Notice how much of the total within last 28 days.

3) brand new details on the viral load. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1341672654038835200

4) Details on mutation in master thread. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1340911632147488768

5) Dr Bedford doesn’t think it’ll significantly reduce vaccine efficacy in the 2021 rollout. But it’s possible over time on longer time horizons if we don’t defeat it quickly. https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1340410010598174721

6) Though Dr Bedford says single mutations will typically have small impact on a vaccine that induced multiple immune responses, he doesn’t exclude an effect on vaccine if there is a “large antigenic change” (binding of virus changes a lot). We will know with more studies soon. https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1340410014255652865