Virus variants that have been found to be more deadly and contagious; some can work against vaccines

(Reuters) – The following is a summary of some of the latest scientific studies on the new coronavirus and attempts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Multiple variants can “escape” vaccines

Antibodies induced by the Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc / BioNTech SE vaccines are dramatically less effective at neutralizing some of the most troubling variants of the coronavirus, a new study suggests. Researchers obtained blood samples from 99 individuals who had received one or two doses of both vaccines and tested their vaccination-induced antibodies against virus replicas designed to mimic 10 variants circulating worldwide. Five of the 10 variants were “highly resistant to neutralization,” even when volunteers had received both doses of the vaccines, the researchers reported in Cell Friday. All five highly resistant variants had virus surface peak mutations – known as K417N / T, E484K and N501Y – that are characteristic of one variant that is rampant in South Africa and two variants that are rapidly spreading in Brazil. In accordance with previous studies, the proportion of neutralizing antibodies decreased 5-6-fold compared to the variants discovered in Brazil. Compared to the variant discovered in South Africa, the neutralization has decreased 20- to 44-fold. A variant now circulating in New York has the E484K mutation. “While studies of the New York variant are underway, our findings suggest that similar variants containing E484K may be more difficult for vaccine-induced antibodies to neutralize,” said study leader Alejandro Balazs of Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital. “Despite our results,” he added, “it is important to consider that vaccines elicit other types of immune responses that may protect against the development of serious diseases.” (bit.ly/3bWB1Ko)

Variant identified in the UK is more deadly

The coronavirus variant first identified in the UK, known as B.1.1.7, is more deadly than other variants circulating there, a new study appears to confirm. Researchers analyzed data from 184,786 people in England diagnosed with COVID-19 between mid-November and mid-January, including 867 who died. Of every three people who died within four weeks of being infected with another variant, about five died after becoming infected with B.1.1.7, according to a paper posted on medRxiv prior to peer review. Overall, the risk of death with B.1.1.7 was 67% higher than the risk with other variants in England, the authors said. As with previous variants, the risk of death in patients increased with age, male gender and pre-existing medical conditions. B.1.1.7 is now widespread in Europe and is expected to prevail in the United States. “Crucially,” the researchers wrote, “new data suggests that currently approved vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are effective against B.1.1.7.” (bit.ly/3r2vpCE)

Variant identified in Brazil is doubly contagious

Between November and January, in Manaus, Brazil, the frequency of COVID-19 cases related to the P.1 coronavirus variant rose from nonexistent to 73%, and the number of infections there quadrupled compared to what the city was experiencing during the first wave of the pandemic, according to a report posted on medRxiv prior to peer review. The greater infectivity of the P.1 variant likely contributed to that, the report suggests. Based on national health surveillance data, the authors estimate that the P.1 variant is roughly 2.5 times more transmissible than previous variants circulating in Manaus. The spread of P.1 occurred despite the fact that 68% of the city population was already infected with the original strain of the coronavirus, the researchers noted. In their analysis, the risk of re-infection with P.1 was low. The potential of the variant to cause serious disease, or its pathogenicity, is still unclear. “The P.1 variant has already been detected in at least 25 countries,” said the authors. “This calls for urgent … studies of the P.1 variant, as greater transmissibility and pathogenicity can collapse even well-prepared health systems.” (bit.ly/38MGykw)

To prevent infection, the new resuscitation technique adds distance

To prevent coronavirus infection during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), medical professionals can increase their distance from the patient by performing chest compressions using the barefoot heel of the foot – also called leg-heel compression – instead of their hands, one suggests. new study. Researchers got 20 medical professionals to perform standard manual chest compression, followed by leg-heel-chest compression after brief instruction on a manikin. There was no difference in the variables measured, including correct heel placement for compression purposes, correct depth of chest compression, and compression rate. The study found that the possible spread of breath drops from the patient to the person performing CPR would likely be minimized with leg-heel compression. “Under special circumstances, such as COVID-19 pandemic, leg-heel chest compression can be an effective alternative … compared to manual chest compression, while significantly increasing distance from the patient,” the researchers concluded in a paper released Monday. was posted on medRiv. prior to peer review. (bit.ly/3ltWgX4)

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