V483a – an Emerging Mutation Hotspot of Sars-Cov-2

Exploring the biological significance of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, causing the COVID–19 pandemic, has recently become an area of paramount interest for many researchers, who are pouring their tremendous efforts, in cracking the COVID–19 pandemic code. One of many such mutations that have occurred in the viral genome is V483A mutation, which is a part of the receptor-binding motif (RBM), present in the S1 domain of the spike protein. V483A mutant virus is becoming popular in North America with 36 cases so far, due to its frequent occurrences in recent days. In this review, we have assembled all information, currently available on V483A mutation, and have made a critical analysis based on the perspectives of many researchers all around the world. Comparison is made between the wild type and the V483A mutants to analyze certain factors like the type of interaction between the virus and host cell interface, binding affinity, stability, partition energy, hydrophobicity, occurrence rate, and transmissibility. Insilico dynamic analysis shows minimal alteration in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of V483A mutant protein in free-state and no significant change of mutant tertiary structure of RBM upon binding to the ACE2 receptor. Comprehensive details about infectivity and evasion of the immune system by the virus are discussed. This information can in turn be of monumental importance in the field of vaccine and drug development because the mutants are becoming resistant to the vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. 

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202009.0395/v1

Wonder how many vaccines they'll have to come up with in order to try to keep up with the mutations. 

What site is this?  Looks like a site to pre-post papers so it hasn't been peer reviewed.  Goodness this is potentially scary news.  I wonder where these cases are located?

True but the articles specifically says its mutated to become vaccine resistant and antibody resistant.  Thats a little scary right?

You are right, Witchy.  That was speculation.

The more a virus mutates, the less likely a vaccine made for the original virus will protect against it.  So there is a basis for such speculation.  Having said that,  there is no guarantee that the part of the virus the vaccine targets is the bit that has changed.  Therefore it is speculation.  (If the bit which has changed is a protein spike on the surface of said virus, it would avoid vaccines targeting that protein spike.)  

There are over 200 different vaccines currently in development around the world.  Some will be targeting that protein, others something else.

I think you have it surrounded, Witchy.