Researchers have developed a novel platform which identifies common immune-escape mutations in SARS-CoV-2 and further suggests the antibodies that will potentially be effective against the circulating strains of the COVID-19 causing virus. 

The research, published in the journal Cell Reports on Tuesday, may lead to development of not just COVID-19 vaccines, but also vaccines for influenza, HIV and other deadly global viruses.

“We have developed a predictive tool that can tell you ahead of time which antibodies are going to be effective against circulating strains of virus,” said study lead author Timothy Whitehead, associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, US.

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“But the implications for this technology are more profound: If you can predict what the variants will be in a given season, you could get vaccinated to match the sequence that will occur and short-circuit this seasonal variation,” Whitehead noted.

The researchers developed a genetically modified version of baking yeast to express some of SARS-CoV-2’s viral spike proteins along its surface, with which they can map resulting mutations that form and escape neutralising antibodies.

“The resulting roadmap could inform the development of more effective booster vaccines and tailored antibody treatments for patients with severe cases of COVID-19,” Whitehead said.

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Spike proteins are sharp bumps that stick out from the surface of viruses in the coronavirus family. These are used by SARS-CoV-2 to enter and infect the human cells. Antibodies latch on to these spike proteins and inhibits them from attaching to cells, thus preventing infection. 

“There are mutations on the spike protein that prevent an antibody from going in and recognising it. Just like getting a new haircut, you look like a different person; this looks like a different virus to that antibody,” said Whitehead.

The spike proteins in the Delta variant are mutated versions of the same. They reduce the efficacy of some antibody therapies. 

Irene Francino-Urdaniz, a graduate student at the University of Colorado, developed a genetically engineered strain of common baker’s yeast, which could display different portions of the viral spike protein on its surface.

She then discovered how to screen through thousands of mutations in a single test tube to discover the ones that escaped neutralising antibodies.

It was found out by researchers that many mutations develop at the same speed at which the yeast can grow.

The team had identified more mutations with the potential to evade our immune systems. The results and finding will b openly available for the community, so that new strategies against SARS-CoV-2 could be designed. 

This means the next COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot produced for the public could have the ability to pack the most punch possible, according to the researchers.

The researchers said, “Due to the adaptability of new mRNA vaccines which work with spike proteins, the applications of this research are not limited to one virus.”

“You can use it for mapping trajectories for influenza and for HIV potentially; for other viral diseases that are known, and also potentially emerging pandemic ones,” Whitehead added.