SARS-CoV-2 Variants, RBD Mutations, Binding Affinity, and Antibody Escape.

ABSTRACT: Since 2020, the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been constantly mutating, producing most of the notable missense mutations in the context of "variants of concern", probably in response to the vaccine-driven alteration of immune profiles of the human population. The Delta variant, in particular, has become the most prevalent variant of the epidemic, and it is spreading in countries with the highest vaccination rates, causing the world to face the risk of a new wave of the contagion. Understanding the physical mechanism responsible for the mutation-induced changes in the RBD's binding affinity, its transmissibility, and its capacity to escape vaccine-induced immunity is the "urgent challenge" in

SUBMITTER: Yang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8619214 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature