08-27-2020, 12:30 PM
11 mutations is nothing. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, and RNA viruses mutate, a lot. See this editorial:
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/ar...io.3000003
(it's related to an article about the mutation rate of poliovirus, but nonetheless still relevant.
A vaccine is going to produce polyclonal antibodies, which aren't dependent on binding to one particular spot in the antigen. Thus, even when there are mutations to one part of the protein, other antibodies will still be able to protect against the virus. Where this could be a problem is with monoclonal antibodies, where the antibody is directed at a single part of the virus. That is why many companies use a "cocktail" of a couple different monoclonal antibodies.
BC
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/ar...io.3000003
(it's related to an article about the mutation rate of poliovirus, but nonetheless still relevant.
Quote:RNA viruses have high mutation rates, but they may tolerate them rather than revel in them. That they were optimized for genetic variation alone is a “just so story” that should be skeptically re-examined as the more complicated biological reality is revealed [26].
A vaccine is going to produce polyclonal antibodies, which aren't dependent on binding to one particular spot in the antigen. Thus, even when there are mutations to one part of the protein, other antibodies will still be able to protect against the virus. Where this could be a problem is with monoclonal antibodies, where the antibody is directed at a single part of the virus. That is why many companies use a "cocktail" of a couple different monoclonal antibodies.
BC