Why is Brazilian COVID-19 strain dangerous?

The new Brazilian strain of COVID-19 is 2 times more infectious than other strains of the virus, a new study reported, published in the journal Science.

At the end of 2020, the Brazilian city of Manaus saw a new increase in the incidence of COVID-19, although the virus was widespread in this area before. Genome sequencing of 184 virus samples taken between November 2020 and January 2021 showed that a new variant, P.1, began to spread in Manaus, characterized by 17 amino acid substitutions, 3 of which affected the spike protein. These mutations - K417T, E484K, and N501Y - have the potential to strengthen the binding of the viral protein to the ACE2 receptor on the surface of human cells, helping the virus to enter.

According to scientists, the new strain has been first recorded around mid-November 2020. At the same time, the infectivity of P.1 is increased by 1.7-2.4 times, and the protection against it in people who have been ill is reduced by 21-46% compared to protection against other strains. Preliminary data point to a 1.2-1.9-fold increase in mortality, but it's hard to say yet whether this is due to changes in the virus or an increased burden on the city's healthcare system.

The P.1 line is now rapidly spreading across Brazil. It has also been found in over 36 countries. According to scientists, urgent research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of existing vaccines against the new strain.

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