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Lots of buzz on emerging data on what mutations in spike protein could mean for binding of antibodies.Unfortunately some have sensationalized really beautiful data built on years of studying other coronaviruses
Here is the #science without the negative hype
Any organism with genome mutates. Mutations happen randomly/by chance. Based on the environmental pressure (selective pressures) on the organism, the mutation might or might not give the organism advantage/disadvantages that helps it better survives its environment & reproduce
RNA viruses are infamously good at mutating: every replication & transmission is chance for mutation!From decades of studying other RNA & coronaviruses, we know their spike protein is particularly prone to mutation
vaccine scientists design vaccines w/ this in mind
another concept that is well known & studied is antigenic drift: over time the virus accumulates bunch of mutations that make it hard for some of our immune molecules to recognizevirus can partially escape detection!
This is why stoping chain of transmission is important
so neither the mutations nor the possibility of antigenic drift are new concepts! Dr Bloom’s lab ( @jbloom_lab) has published a very cool pre-print on this topic https://twitter.com/jbloom_lab/status/1346442000472580098?s=20
The main takeaways are:A) one particular mutation (E484K) appears to be less naturalizable by antibodies from people recovering form COVID compared to others (Blue line
).Interestingly, not every one (not all antibody groups) response the same way!
Further more there is heterogeneity in immune response over time for individual. I’d like to emphasize that heterogeneity of immune response is NORMAL. Scientists are aware of it & it’s actually a good thing.
Dr. Bloom shows this beautifully in his thread https://twitter.com/jbloom_lab/status/1346442045389344771
What does this mean for vaccines: The changes are NOT strong enough to render the vaccines useless.
But, as mentioned in
every transmission is a change to accumulate more mutations vaccines will have to be adapted in coming years.
Finally, I want to emphasize that the mode of transmission remain the same the best way to protect yourselves, your communities, and prevent further & faster mutation of the virus is to stop transmission:
, #StayHome 
, #PhysicalDistancing#COVIDzero is the only way to go
