COVID-19: Mutation of Kent variant detected in samples could help virus evade immune system
Written by News on 02/02/2021
A mutation of the Kent COVID variant that has been detected in some samples could help the virus evade the immune system, scientists have found.
The mutation, which has been labelled E484K, has also been found in the South Africa variant of the coronavirus.
It was found in 11 samples of some 200,000 that have been sequenced.
Sky’s science correspondent Thomas Moore said it was a “worrying development” as it could mean those previously infected could be re-infected and could reduce the effectiveness of COVID vaccines.
He said the evolution of E484K meant the virus had effectively “developed a superpower” which enabled it to not only infect cells, but also to invade the immune system.
“It changes shape so antibodies don’t recognise it in the same way, and the fact that this mutation has been now picked up in some samples of the Kent variant is a twist – a worrying development.
“It potentially means that people who have had the infection before, might be re-infected and also that it might reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine – not completely; the vaccine would still protects against serious infection and death – but perhaps that it wouldn’t stop it spreading.”
(c) Sky News 2021: COVID-19: Mutation of Kent variant detected in samples could help virus evade immune system
