What we know about the Covid-19 variants
----------------------------------------------
Scientists are urgently studying more transmissible variants of the coronavirus, such as those identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, to understand what threat they pose
----------------------------------------------
MAIN CONCERNS

All three variants have undergone changes to part of virus which binds to human cells
Spike protein

Changes, or mutations, can affect how easily virus infects host cell

N501Y mutation seems to help virus bind more tightly to cell receptor. UK variant could be 30-50% more infectious than original virus

ACE2* receptor

Entry point into host cell for virus to replicate

Coronavirus

Severity of illness
Some research suggests UK variant may be associated with 30% higher risk of death, but this is yet to be confirmed by peer-reviewed scientific studies

Vaccine effectiveness

Transmission
Scientists believe current vaccines should still work against new variants, although perhaps not quite as well

Studies suggest E484K and K417N mutations may help virus evade human immune system, by making neutralising antibodies less effective at fighting infection

*Angiotensin- converting enzyme 2

Human host cell
----------------------------------------------
VARIANTS     UK     South Africa  Brazil
Known as    B117        B1351       P1

Date and place of first detection
Sep 2020, south-east England
Oct 2020, South Africa’s Eastern Cape province
Jan 2, 2021, among travellers arriving in Japan from Brazil
----------------------------------------------
Reported to WHO  Dec 14 Dec 18  Jan 10
----------------------------------------------
Key mutations  N501Y    N501Y, E484K, K417T  N501Y, E484K, K417N
----------------------------------------------
Sources: BBC, World Health Organisation
© GRAPHIC NEWS