Spike Trimer

Multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 are circulating globally and posting new challenges to human health. The variant B.1.1.7 identified in the United Kingdom (UK) carries a large number of mutations and is reported to spread more easily and quickly than other variants. The variant B.1.351 identified in South Africa , P.1 identified in Brazil and B.1.617.2 in India show evidence of increased transmissibility and resistance to established immunity. A common mutation identified in the U.K, South African and Brazilian variants is N501Y, and the mutation identified in B.1.617.2 is T478K,which resides on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. To evaluate the impacts of the new variants, a rapid and effective assay kit detecting the levels of antibody against the mutant is in urgent need.