First ever image of B117 coronavirus variant captured by UBC researchers – CBC
Photos offer reassurance about how the virus strain may react to current vaccines, researchers say
May 03, 2021
The first images of a mutation on a COVID-19 variant of concern have been captured by University of British Columbia researchers, who say the photos offer some reassurance about how the virus strain may react to current vaccines.
UBC says the researchers are the first to publish structural images of the mutation found on one portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
The spike protein is the part of the virus that opens the door to infection, while the mutation is the change believed partly responsible for the rapid spread of the variant first identified in the United Kingdom.
A team led by Dr. Sriram Subramaniam, professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at UBC’s faculty of medicine, found the images show localized placement of the mutation allows it to enter human cells more easily.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/first-image-covid-variant-1.6012727
