UPDATE – UCSF QBI and University College, London Identify Mutations in “U.K.” Strain of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Responsible for Enhanced Transmissibility and Infectivity, Business News

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and LONDON, June 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a study published online in bioRxiv today, scientists at UCSF QBI and the University College, London reported new findings on the viral replication and pathogenesis of the B.1.1.7 U.K. coronavirus strain. In the paper titled, Evolution of Enhanced Innate Immune Evasion by the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 UK Variant, scientists described specific mutations that increase the transmissibility, enhance efficiency of host invasion, inhibit host immune response and possibly increase mortality. Importantly, these effects are connected to mutations in the virus that are not in Spike. While the B.1.1.7 variant fortunately remains sensitive to vaccine and infection-induced neutralizing antibodies, the mutations of this variant…