Pfizer vaccine 'works' against key

variant mutation, study suggests

By James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine can still target a key mutation that has emerged in
two new variants of coronavirus, laboratory studies show.
However, this is only one of many mutations that are found in the new forms of
the virus.
So while the study has been welcomed, it is not being seen as definitive
scientific evidence about how the vaccine will perform.
New variants have been detected in the UK and South Africa.
Both forms of the virus are spreading more quickly and this has raised
questions over what level of protection vaccines can offer against them.
The widely held view is that vaccines will still work, but researchers are on the
hunt for proof.
The study by the University of Texas Medical Branch focuses on a mutation
called N501Y, which has emerged in both new variants.
This is thought to be important because it is in the part of the virus that makes
first contact with our body's cells and changes could make it easier to get in and
cause an infection.
'Good news'
The researchers created two forms of the virus - one with and one without the
mutation - and then bathed those viruses in blood samples taken from 20
patients that had been vaccinated in clinical trials.
The results showed the immune systems of vaccinated patients were able to
take out the new mutation.
However, the variant that emerged contain multiple mutations whose combined
effects may help the virus evade the immune system.
"The mutation selected is only one of eight in the UK variant, and in fact was not
expected to have significant impact alone," Prof Ravi Gupta, from the University
of Cambridge said.
Prof Stephen Evans, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine,
said: "Had the opposite result been found... that would have been bad and very
concerning.
"So, yes this is good news, but it does not yet give us total confidence that the
Pfizer (or other) vaccines will definitely give protection."

Article with changes

Pfizer vaccine 'works' against key
variant mutation, study advises
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine can still target a key transformation that has
emerged in two new variants of coronavirus, laboratory studies show.
But, this is only one of many mutations that are found in the new forms of the
virus.
So while the study has been received, it is not being seen as definitive scientific
evidence about how the vaccine will perform.
New modifications have been detected in the UK and South Africa.
Both forms of the virus are spreading more rapidly and this has raised questions over
what level of defense vaccines can offer against them.
The widely held view is that vaccines will still function, but academics are on the hunt
for proof.

The research by the University of Texas Medical Branch focuses on a mutation

called N501Y, which has materialized in both new variants.
This is thought to be imperative because it is in the part of the virus that makes
first contact with our body's cells and changes could make it easier to get in and
cause an infection.
'Good news'
The researchers generated two forms of the virus - one with and one without
the mutation - and then bathed those viruses in blood samples taken from 20
patients that had been vaccinated in clinical trials.
The results indicated the immune systems of vaccinated patients could take out
the new mutation.
However, the variant that emerged contain multiple mutations whose combined
effects may help the virus elude the immune system.
"The mutation selected is only one of eight in the UK variant, and in fact was not
expected to have significant impact alone," Prof Ravi Gupta, from the University
of Cambridge said.
Prof Stephen Evans, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine,
said: "Had the opposed result been found... that would have been bad and very
concerning.
"So, yes this is good news, but it does not yet give us total trust that the Pfizer
(or other) vaccines will certainly give defense."

Article link:

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55587320