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LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) – Existing vaccines may protect against the Brazilian variant of the coronavirus, according to a study by the University of Oxford that also highlighted how a variant first found in South Africa represents the biggest headache. for vaccine manufacturers.
Coronavirus variants with specific mutations in the spike protein are of concern because scientists fear they will reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines, as well as the immunity acquired from the previous infection.
The scientists used blood samples from people with antibodies generated by the COVID-19 infection and the Oxford / AstraZeneca and Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines being launched in Britain.
The data showed a nearly three-fold reduction in the level of virus neturalization by antibodies generated by vaccines for the P.1 Brazil variant – similar to the reduction seen with the variant first identified in Kent, Great Britain.
“These data suggest that vaccine-induced and natural antibodies may still neutralize these variants, but at lower levels,” said the study. “It is important to note that the ‘Brazilian’ strain P1 may be less resistant to these antibodies than we initially feared.”
The variant first identified in South Africa triggered a much greater reduction in the neutralization of the virus, with a 9-fold reduction in the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine and a 7.6-fold reduction in Pfizer / BioNTech.
Last month, South Africa suspended the use of the AstraZeneca injection after data showed that it provided minimal protection against mild to moderate infection caused by the country’s dominant variant.
The study authors said that the development of vaccines against the South African variant, known as B.1.351, should be “the highest priority for vaccine developers worldwide”.
Andrew Pollard, lead investigator for the Oxford University vaccine trial, said the study provided “new insights that help us to be prepared to respond to new health challenges caused by the pandemic virus, if necessary”.
The study was launched on a prepress server and has not been peer-reviewed. (Reporting by Kate Holton and Alistair Smout; Editing by Nick Macfie)