Scientists are working hard to test whether mutations found in new variants of the coronavirus can circumvent the immunity offered currently developing vaccines. Tthe first results of this work are encouraging: They suggest that the Pfizer vaccine is still effective against one major mutation found in these variants. Hmore research is needed before we can be completely reassured.
The preliminary results were released this week on the preprint website bioRXiv by a team of scientists from Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch. They collected blood samples from fully vaccinated people and tested them against virus strains carrying the N501Y mutation, which has been seen in variants first found in the United Kingdom and South Africa, and is considered one important reason why these strains exist is more transferable. Sscientists have concerned that the mutation could alter the structure of the virus enough to “escape” the detection of the immune system of survivors or vaccinated.
In the tests, the blood of these patients was still able to neutralize the N501Y strain of the virus, performing just as well as against other variants. This suggests that this one mutation alone cannot protect the virus against our existing arms. The team also tested other mutations seen in the UK or South Africa variants and found similar results.
‘So we have now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them had a significant impact. This is the good news, ”said Pfizer scientist Philip Pormer. tell Reuters Friday. “That does not mean the 17th.”
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Indeed, no research has yet been done on another disturbing mutation seen in the South African variant, called E484K. And while it may be difficult for any mutation to affect the effectiveness of the vaccine, experts have done so. warned that multiple mutations in a variant could change it collectively enough to avoid antibodies provided by vaccines, which at least partially impairs the efficacy of a vaccine. In other words, these findings are hopeful, but much remains to be verified.
Dormitzer and his team – and no doubt other scientists – will continue to test the vaccine new mutations and variants, with information from this research expected to be available in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the real world can provide useful information in the near future. To date, approximately 17 million people worldwide receive at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine (most require two doses), including 6.25 million Americans. Iin the midst of a silenceraging pandemic, there are more cases of these variants report around the world. If our vaccines do not work as effectively as they expect due to these new versions of the virus, we will know soon enough.