Scientists in US' Oregon find B.1.1.7 variant with 'E484K', mutation also found in India

B.1.1.7 variant of coronavirus that till now has been most aggressively transmissible one among many variants, has been combined with a mutation that is likely to variant 'less susceptible' to vaccines. With cases rising in United States, at least 40 states in America have recorded positives that contracted Covid-19 with B.1.1.7 variant — that was first discovered by researchers in Britain, in November 2020. Now, concern for scientists in Oregon is 'E484K' mutation combined with B.1.1.7. This specific mutation has been one of many reasons for number of cases rising across world including India. 

This UK variant has now surfaced in Pacific Northwest region of America in Oregon, however, with a mutation 'E484K' or also referred to as 'Eek'. Geneticists here have discovered that Covid-19 that was first identified in UK with a mutation was actually first reported in South Africa. genetic analysis of B.1.1.7 variant with 'Eek' has revealed that this particular virus variant isn't imported from anywhere else in Oregon, inste has been acquired in community (did not arise in any patient), asserts a geneticist from Oregon Health and Science University — Brian O'Roak.

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'B.1.1.7 with Eek susceptible to vaccines'

Roak and his team who are working with US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to track variants of Covid-19 have submitted ir study on B.1.1.7 with mutation 'E484K' in databases of CDC. Immunologist at Rockefeller University in New York — Dr. Michel Nussenzweig earlier this year said "Vaccines may not prevent people from turning mildly or asymptomatically infected with variants. And if infected are still transmitting virus to ors who are not well immunised, Covid1-9 will continue to claim lives."

Basically, new variant B.1.1.7 ded with mutations has turned out to be even more dangerous than what scientists and researchers h expected. While initial studies of vaccines showed that body will develop antibodies after shots are ministered to fight pathogen, recent mutations with Britain variant have seemingly me vaccines including those by Moderna and Pfizer, defenseless.

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'E484' mutation with B.1.1.7 variant blunts body's immune system severely, while vaccine hardly has any influence on it. However, scientists at Oregon university identified this combination and have pointed that "It seems to have evolved independently," Dr. O'Roak said. He recalls that of 13 samples of those who tested positive for Covid-19 in Oregon recently, 10 turned out to be B.1.1.7 alone while one tested positive with 'Eek'. It has to be noted here that B.1.1.7 is 56% more quicker in transmission when compared to SARS-CoV-2 (hCov-19).

 
'Or mutations could weaken Eek's (E484) effect' 

Expert in computational genomics at California University Stacia Wyman stressed "B.1.1.7 has only been introduced into US. As it evolves, and as it slowly becomes dominant one, it could accumulate more mutations." However, a study published in Nature shows that of variants identified in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil, 'one in South Africa (B.1.351) is most resistant to antibodies produced by immune system.' But same variant in Brazil wasn't resistant, even as it carried Eek mutation.

Overall, Wyman hinted that "or mutations could weaken Eek's effect [sic]" and this she said was good news. 'E484K' mutation combined with B.1.1.7 is a matter of bigger concern to entire world, as this mutation was also found in parts of Maharashtra in India. Places like Amravathi, Yavatmal, and surrounding witnessed a drastic surge in number of positives, in February and doctors found this mutation with variants.

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Meanwhile,  Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University has suggested "I think we need to monitor mutations closely and look out for things like that that could be becoming dominant in certain parts of world.” Mutations are now root cause for rise in Covid-19 cases across globe. Scientists are finding ways to lessen impact of virus on a person's immunity, by using mutations against one anor.  

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