88 Cases Caused by Coronavirus Variants in the USA

As of January 15, 2021, the U.S. CDC reported (88) cases of the UK's B.1.1.7 variant in the USA. The CDC says, 'Scientists are working on learning more about how easily they might spread, whether they could cause more severe illness and whether currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them. At this time, there is no evidence that these variants cause more severe illness or increased risk of death.'

A recent non-peer-reviewed study reported the 'UK variant of SARS-CoV-2' is thought to be more infectious than previously circulating coronavirus strains due to several changes, including the N501Y mutation.

These researchers stated on January 12, 2021, they found cryo-EM structures of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein ectodomains with and without the N501Y mutation in complex with the VH fragment of the potent neutralizing antibody, VH -Fc ab8.

The mutation results in localized structural perturbations near Y501. Still, VH -Fc ab8 retains the ability to bind and neutralize pseudotyped viruses expressing the N501Y mutant with efficiencies comparable to unmutated viruses.

'These study results show that despite the higher affinity of ACE2 for the N501Y mutant, SARS-CoV-2 can still be neutralized efficiently by an antibody that binds epitopes in the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.'