The Guardian reported that a novel corona 19 mutant virus, which is expected to reduce the effectiveness of an existing vaccine developed in the UK, has been identified.
The newspaper says researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK have discovered and analyzed the new mutant virus in 10 countries, including the UK, Denmark and Australia.
The new mutant virus was first discovered in the UK and Nigeria in December of last year, and 32 cases have been reported so far in the UK.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have revealed that a number of features have been discovered that can cause the new mutant virus to re-infect a cure for COVID-19 or reduce the preventive effect of the previously developed COVID-19 vaccine.
One of them is the E484K mutation in the spike protein, which plays an important role when the virus penetrates cells.
E484K is present in mutant viruses found in South Africa and Brazil, and is believed to have a function that allows the virus to more effectively evade antibodies in the human body.
Simon Clark, professor of microbiology at the University of Reading, UK, notes that although it is unclear how many other mutant features of the new mutant virus function, E484K increases the virus’s resistance to some vaccines.
“I’m not sure if the new mutant virus will spread,” Clark explained, “but if it does, it will weaken the immunity gained from any vaccine or past infection.”
[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
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