A study of the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19, has suggested that the current batch of vaccines might be less effective against the Beta variant.
The study by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital in the US, which was published in the ‘Science’ journal on June 24, used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to analyse the spike proteins, present on the surface of SARS-CoV-2.
The researchers compared the spike proteins from the original virus found in China in 2019, with that of the Beta and the Alpha variant, first identified in South Africa and in the UK respectively.
The results have reportedly indicated that the mutations in the Beta variant, also known as B.1.351, can change the shape of the spike surface at certain locations.
Since all current vaccines are directed against specific spike proteins, the Beta variant might not get neutralised by them. The vaccines would be less able to bind to the Beta virus, which may allow it to evade the immune system even when people are inoculated.
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