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The genomic stability of SARS-CoV-2 that scientists had first expected has been disrupted by the emergence of different variants over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The N-terminal domain (NTD) of the virus’s spike protein has appeared as a potentially mutable structure—scientists have reported it has deletion-prone regions that may allow the virus to escape antibody neutralization. According to a preprint posted to medRxiv June 12, the prevalence of these deletions increased during surges of COVID-19 cases worldwide. The study’s authors also report the presence of NTD deletions in SARS-CoV-2 samples from COVID-19 patients who had either been infected before or who were already fully vaccinated.
The team hypothesizes these deletions could assist the virus in evading immunity, potentially playing a role in surges and vaccine breakthrough infections. The ideas in this manuscript are thought-provoking, says virologist Kevin McCarthy of the University of Pittsburgh who ...
