Identified in October, this new variant of Covid-19, named 501Y.V2, worries doctors and scientists and could prove to be more dangerous than the coronavirus. He could also be a threat to the vaccine.
The South African variant, more contagious than the Covid?
It is normal for variants to exist, as mutations occur as the virus grows. However, Ravi Gupta, professor of microbiology at the University of Cambridge, believes that this variant “ is the most disturbing of all “. Scientists believe that this new variant is more contagious and therefore less easy to fight. However, they indicate that it does not appear to cause more severe forms of the disease.
The different variants that have appeared in England, South Africa and Japan come from the same mutation called N501Y, located on the spike protein of the coronavirus. This spike, which allows it to enter cells and infect humans, has mutated and prevents antibodies from fighting the virus effectively. ” As such, it can help the virus bypass the immune protection conferred by a previous infection or by vaccination. »Explains Professor François Balloux, of University College London, quoted by the British organization Science Media Center.
A threat to the vaccine?
On January 8, the Pfizer-BioNTech groups indicated that their vaccine was effective against the N501Y mutation. However, several checks are still to be made to conclude that the efficacy of the vaccine is not taken into account by this mutation. According to a study published on January 6, a Brazilian sick with Covid in May was again infected with the new variant. This observation indicates that the mutation caused a poorer immune response in the patient. Qualified ” immune escape », The variant therefore presents a greater risk for the subject of being infected again.
According to Prof. Gupta, the E484K mutation “ could be the start of vaccine problems “. It develops : ” At this stage, they should all remain effective, but what worries us is the prospect of future changes that would add to those we are already seeing. “. He invites the population to be ” vaccinate as quickly as possible, anywhere in the world “.
