SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, uses a protein called spike to attach to and invade cells in the body’s respiratory tract. Antibodies that prevent spikes from attaching to cells neutralize the virus and prevent disease.
Many variants have acquired mutations in their spike genes that allow them to evade some antibodies generated against the original strain, undermining the effectiveness of antibody-based therapeutics.
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However, in a new study published in Immunity from Washington University in St. Louis, researchers have identified an antibody that is highly protective at low doses against a wide range of viral variants.
Moreover, the antibody attaches to a part of the virus that differs little across the variants, meaning that it is unlikely for resistance to arise at this spot.
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Viruses mutate all the time, and the COVID-19 virus has been mutating since it first latched onto human DNA. A few highly contagious strains of the virus were first detected in late 2020 and early 2021 and began proliferating largely because countries have been unable to keep the pandemic in check.
These strains aren’t necessarily more deadly than previous strains, but they appear to be more infectious, according to experts Global Citizen recently interviewed.
When a virus spreads, it has the opportunity to mutate with every transmission — essentially, it’s just making a copy of itself and it can make mistakes when doing so.
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Experts say there are ways that the general public can help in avoiding the virus mutations and spreads.
They advise to increase handwashing and hygiene measures, double-mask, maintain social distancing, and get vaccinated.
“I’m optimistic that we’re peaking in COVID for the grim truth that the delta wave is so pervasive and infecting so many people that on the back end of this we’re going to have immunity in, at least, 85%, maybe 90% of the population,” said Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
“Some will have acquired that immunity through vaccination. Some will have acquired that immunity through infection. Some will have been both vaccinated and infected.”
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