The British virus variant has evolved in a small number of cases with regard to new mutations

LONDON (Reuters) – The British variant of the coronavirus has developed a new, related mutation in a small number of cases, which scientists say is similar to the South African and Brazilian variants and could reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.

The emergence of the mutation in the variant first discovered in Britain highlights how complicated the COVID-19 shutdown will be, even once vaccines are rolled out.

Public Health England said there were 11 reports of the British variant with the E484K mutation, mostly in the South West of England.

The E484K mutation, which occurs on the virus’s spike protein, is the same change observed in the South African and Brazilian variants that has raised international concern.

“PHE is closely monitoring the situation and all necessary public health interventions are being undertaken, including improved contact tracking and control measures,” said a PHE spokesperson.

Several laboratory studies have shown that vaccines and antibody therapy are less effective against the South African variant.

In contrast, early evidence showed that vaccines worked just as well against the British variant, which did not originally have the E484K mutation.

Health Minister Matt Hancock said it was too early to say the impact of variants on vaccines, but worrying mutations had been reported in Bristol and Liverpool.

“We must remain cautious, not least because of the renewed challenges posed by new variants of the coronavirus,” he told lawmakers.

Calum Semple, who is on a panel advising the UK government, told BBC radio that E484K was the “most concerning mutation” and “occurred spontaneously” in the UK variant.

The name E484K, in layman’s terms, is like map coordinates. The number 484 is the exact location of the mutation, the letter E is the amino acid it originally was, and the letter K is the amino acid it was mutated to.

Concerns about the South African variant, with its E484K mutation, have already prompted authorities in England to initiate a massive door-to-door test drive in areas where cases of the variant have been found in people without connection to South Africa, while they were required. quarantine in hotels for arrivals from South Africa has yet to go into effect.

While the number of reported cases of the British variant with the mutation in question is small, scientists said it showed how the high prevalence of cases in Britain meant that it was not enough to simply prevent new variants from being imported.

“This report seems to suggest that under conditions of very high virus replication, even the strictest border controls, while they can slow the spread, are unlikely to prevent the appearance of new variants,” said Jonathan Stoye, virologist at The Francis. Crick Institute.