Mutations of the COVID-19 virus are becoming more sticky. They appear to help the virus transmit more readily and evade the immune system. There are three known mutations of the killer coronavirus named for where they were discovered: the United Kingdom (B117 and E484K), the Brazilian (P1) and the South African.
The Palm Beach Post reported, The first wave of vaccines now being administered blocks the protein of the spiky virus from attaching to a human cell. Some of the mutations are already ahead of the vaccine, evolving a slightly altered spike much like Velcro.
In lab experiments, these mutations have withstood therapeutic antibodies that worked previously against the original strain of COVID-19.
The CDC said there were 92 cases of the U.K. mutant in Florida, as of January 30, 2021, outpacing 26 other states. This is the same variant that caused a huge spike of cases in California. The U.K mutant is more transmissible than the original COVID-19 virus and might be more deadly. The U.K mutant allows Covid-19 to escape antibody protection. This mutant shares some of the genetic signature of variants linked to South Africa and Brazil. A mutant already known to be more transmissible also risks becoming somewhat resistant to the immune protection offered by vaccines, or more likely to cause reinfection among people who were previously infected, experts say. Antibodies appear less able to bind to spike proteins arising from the mutation. The B.1.1.7 strain first spotted in the UK has now been found in at least 70 countries worldwide, including about 470 known cases in the US, according to the CDC.
The South African variant has been found in Maryland. This version appears to lower the efficacy of a current vaccine, according to studies. The South African strain has developed three mutations in its spikes, one that is the same as the U.K. variant, one that has a stronger impact on vaccinated individuals and another that remains a mystery.
It is believed that the Brazilian (P1) mutant eludes the human immune response triggered by infection from the original COVID-19 virus. P.1 adds to concerns because it is causing ravaging a country where there should be a high level of immunity, since three quarters of the residents of Manaus, Brazil had been previously infected by COVID-19. With the second wave of COVID, hospitals have run out of oxygen.
Dr. Larry Bush, an epidemiologist and immediate past president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society said the variants have changed the landscape for the future, calling them “more sticky.” A more sticky virus means more infections and therefor more deaths. Thus far, vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer seem to work against the new mutants. He said pharmaceutical companies can tweak the vaccine to address the COVID mutations. He sees a future where the vaccine will be effective on up to four most prevalent strains in any given year — just like a flu shot.
Michael Farzan, a professor in Scripps Department of Immunology and Microbiology said, “If any part of the world has uncontrolled mutations, everyone is under threat.” “We’re not protected until the entire world is protected. The South African variant is a warning shot.”
Experts say that aggressive testing, adhering to Covid-19 guidelines , like social distancing, wearing masks and hand washing, and rapidly rolling out vaccines are more important than ever in light of these spreading mutants.