A strain of nCoV that is resistant to the Pfizer vaccine, AstraZeneca

This variant has only been found in 5 patient samples in the world. However, it is still warned that it may be resistant to the Covid-19 vaccine thanks to a dangerous mutation.

The study was published by a team of experts in Germany in the journal Nature Molecular and Cellular Immunology on October 25. The name that worries the panel of experts is A.30 , which has not been recorded for many months. The last specimen infected with the A.30 variant was reported in May-June.

A.30 has several protein mutations that are resistant to the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

According to Newsweek, the team notes that A.30 has several protein mutations that are resistant to the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines . One of them is E4848K, which has been repeatedly warned against antibodies from vaccines and natural immunity.

For comparison, the team analyzed the Beta (B.1.351) and Eta (B.1.525) strains. These are the two strains with the highest level of antibody neutralization resistance. In particular, the Beta variant is being classified by the World Health Organization as a group of concern.

Compared with the above two strains, the S protein of A.30 contains 10 amino acid substitutions and 5 deletions. All deleted amino acids are located in the antigenic superbug region that neutralizing antibodies do not target.

In addition, they found that the A.30 strain was able to invade most host cells, including kidneys, liver and lungs, thanks to the enzyme cathepsin L. In particular, it easily spread outside the lungs and could resist Bamlanivimab drug cures Covid-19, however, it is easily destroyed by a mixture of Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab.

A.30 is believed to have originated in Tanzania. According to the Covid-19 strain monitoring network GISAID, there are only 5 cases of A.30 infection globally, including 3 F0 in Angola, the remaining two in the UK and Sweden.

Therefore, some observers suggest that this variant may be extinct. Contrary to this concept, scientists in Germany assert that the A.30 strain needs to be closely monitored and apply many countermeasures quickly.