Scientists at the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown that three new rapidly spreading strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are resistant to antibodies that act against the original form of the virus, resulting from vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. The researchers’ article was published in the journal Nature Medicine.
Experts reviewed variants of SARS-CoV-2 that originated in South Africa, Great Britain and Brazil. These strains will inevitably dominate the world, making current coronavirus drugs and vaccines less effective, scientists say. Although some people develop enough antibodies to be protected against these strains, weakened immunity in the elderly is a risk factor.
The vaccines are directed against the coronavirus S-protein, which provides the ability of the virus to capture cells and get inside. For almost a year of the pandemic, the mutations of the coronavirus did not affect this molecule, but the new strains showed significant changes that could reduce the effectiveness of drugs and vaccines that recognize the S-protein.
Researchers tested antibodies in the blood of people who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection or were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. They also tested antibodies in the blood of mice, hamsters and monkeys vaccinated with an experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed at the University of Washington School of Medicine, which can be administered through the nose. It turned out that the usual level of antibodies is enough to neutralize the strain from the UK, however, the other two variants of the coronavirus required 3.5 to 10 times more antibodies.
While scientists cannot say how the new options will affect the pandemic, the researchers hope that the vaccines will not lose their effectiveness and the coronavirus will not develop drug resistance.