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Vaccine-immune corona mutants: development in Germany "extreme scenario, but cannot be ruled out"

2021-04-13T09:41:38.848Z


Researchers from Göttingen consider the emergence of new virus variants that are immune to the current corona vaccines conceivable - also in Germany.


Researchers from Göttingen consider the emergence of new virus variants that are immune to the current corona vaccines conceivable - also in Germany.

Göttingen - Germany is currently in the third wave of the corona pandemic.

The nationwide 7-day incidence continues to rise, intensive care physicians are warning of a new high in Covid intensive care patients as early as April.

The spread of corona mutants, such as the virus variant B.1.1.7, is primarily responsible for this.

In a new study, researchers do not rule out that variants can also arise in Germany against which current corona vaccines are less effective or no longer effective at all.

Corona mutation: Vaccine-immune virus variant may develop in Germany

Such escape variants can arise when the coronavirus spreads in a population with incomplete immune protection, explained the researchers Stefan Pöhlmann and Markus Hoffmann from the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen.

This is also the case, for example, if the immunity slowly declines after an infection or vaccination.

"If there is hardly any immunity in a population, as is currently the case in Germany, an escape variant would be in direct competition with the predominant virus variants, which for their part still find enough susceptible hosts," explained the scientists.

An escape variant would only prevail over a large area if it was also easier to transfer.

Corona mutation: Virus variants B.1.351 and P.1 as examples of escape variants

Pöhlmann and Hoffmann cite virus variant P.1 in Brazil as an example of such a scenario.

The experts from the German Primate Center, together with colleagues from the Ulm University Hospital, discovered that an antibody used for Covid-19 therapy was completely ineffective in the corona variants P.1 and B.1.351 from South Africa.

You therefore classify these two virus variants as escape variants.

However, it can be assumed that B.1.351 and P.1 would still be inhibited by the available corona vaccines.

"However, the vaccination protection may be reduced and of shorter duration," said the scientists.

It is therefore all the more important to quickly achieve large-scale immunity in the population through vaccination and thus rob the virus variants of the hosts that they need to spread.

Creation of escape variants in Germany: "Extreme scenario, but cannot be ruled out"

The researchers do not rule out the possibility that new virus variants could emerge against which current corona vaccines are less effective or no longer effective at all.

Especially in the case of a strong spread of the corona virus, as it is currently taking place in Germany, this is "an extreme scenario, but cannot be ruled out," explained Pöhlmann and Hoffmann.

In order to reduce the likelihood of such escape variants occurring, the spread of the coronavirus must be effectively contained - for example by adhering to the AHA rules and nationwide corona vaccinations.

Pöhlmann and Hoffmann also suggested adapting the existing corona vaccines to improve protection against virus variants such as B.1.351 and P.1.

“This approach would be similar to the vaccination strategy we use to protect ourselves against flu viruses,” explained the scientists.

The British corona mutation B.1.1.7 is spreading rapidly in Germany.

It is far more contagious than the original version - but not more deadly, as a recent study shows.

(ph / dpa)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-04-13

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