English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Recently, the SARS-CoV-2 variants from the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa,and Brazil have received much attention for their increased infectivity,potentially high virulence, and possible threats to existing vaccines andantibody therapies. The question remains if there are other more infectiousvariants transmitted around the world. We carry out a large-scale study of252,874 SARS-CoV-2 genome isolates from patients to identify many other rapidlygrowing mutations on the spike (S) protein receptor-binding domain (RDB). Wereveal that 88 out of 95 significant mutations that were observed more than 10times strengthen the binding between the RBD and the hostangiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), indicating the virus evolves towardmore infectious variants. In particular, we discover new fast-growing RBDmutations N439K, L452R, S477N, S477R, and N501T that also enhance the RBD andACE2 binding. We further unveil that mutation N501Y involved in United Kingdom(UK), South Africa, and Brazil variants may moderately weaken the bindingbetween the RBD and many known antibodies, while mutations E484K and K417Nfound in South Africa and Brazilian variants can potentially disrupt thebinding between the RDB and many known antibodies. Among three newly identifiedfast-growing RBD mutations, L452R, which is now known as part of the Californiavariant B.1.427, and N501T are able to effectively weaken the binding of manyknown antibodies with the RBD. Finally, we hypothesize that RBD mutations thatcan simultaneously make SARS-CoV-2 more infectious and disrupt the existingantibodies, called vaccine escape mutations, will pose an imminent threat tothe current crop of vaccines. A list of most likely vaccine escape mutations isgiven, including N501Y, L452R, E484K, N501T, S494P, and K417N.

Vaccine-escape and fast-growing mutations in the United Kingdom, the  United States, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, and other COVID-19-devastated  countries