Highly mutated coronavirus variant

A new coronavirus variant found in southern Africa has 50 mutations, including 30 changes to the spike protein that infects human host cells and is the focus of most Covid vaccines


Nov: Omicron variant detected in South Africa amid surge in Covid cases from 868 to 2,465 in two days

Flights banned: From Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe


SARS-CoV-2 virus

Receptor-binding domain: RBD – located on tip of spike protein – has 10 mutations compared with just two for Delta variant

Spike protein

Human cell
ACE2* receptor 
Virus genome

Infection: RBD enables spike protein to bind to ACE2 receptors – entry point into host cell for virus to replicate

Vaccines: Elicit antibodies that bind to spike protein, including RBD tip.
Protein varies significantly from strain used to develop current vaccines

Antibodies
 
*angiotensin-converting enzyme 2


Sources: Africa Centres for Disease Control, Nature, Thermo Fisher 
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