Abu Dhabi researchers have developed a way of modelling hundreds of coronavirus mutations in just a few days. The method means they can quickly see whether particular changes help the virus become more infectious or evade antibodies.
The scientists say their computer-based technique could be used to help develop vaccines in response to new variants.
“Our method can be used as a real-time surveillance tool to screen for emerging infectious Covid-19 variants,” Prof Kristin Gunsalus, faculty director of bioinformatics at NYU Abu Dhabi.
An advantage of computer-based modelling is that a hundred mutations can be readily assessed in a few days
“It allows for a more timely response to emerging outbreaks and could be used to guide the development of new vaccines.”
The coronavirus enters human cells by binding its spike protein to a human cell's ACE2 receptor. The easier a virus can bind to this receptor the more infectious it is.
Most current coronavirus vaccines cause the body to produce harmless versions of these spike proteins. Then, when the real things comes along, the immune response is to attack it like any other known invader.
Coronavirus particles with mutations in the spike protein may be able to evade the body’s defences – including those from vaccination – because the immune system does not yet defend itself against the new kind of spike protein.
The researchers say as many as 5,000 variants could be created by changes to the spike protein alone, which makes assessing them a daunting task.
“Screening such a large set of variants poses a tremendous challenge for conventional experimental methods,” said Hin Hark Gan, a senior research scientist NYU’s Centre for Genomics and Systems Biology in New York and the study’s first author.
“An advantage of computer-based modelling is that a hundred mutations can be readily assessed in a few days.”
The researchers looked at 1,003 combinations of mutations affecting the region where the spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor.
Results suggest that spike protein mutations are more likely to occur in two particular “hotspots” because these regions are flexible and can change shape.
Modelling single, double and triple mutations has shown that the variants first detected in Brazil, South Africa, the UK and the US could bind more easily to ACE2. This means these variants are more contagious than the original strain.
However, this is not the case with the variant first detected in India. Contrary to popular belief it is not thought to bind more strongly to ACE2, meaning it is not more contagious. But two of its mutations do help it to evade antibodies.
This would make vaccines, and antibodies from a previous infection, less effective in fighting that particular strain.
“Due to viral mutations, the efficacy of existing antibodies and vaccines may diminish,” said Mr Gan. “This scenario is a likely cause for the rapid spread of the variant in India.”
The other authors of the study were Benoit Marchand, of NYU Abu Dhabi’s high performance computing group, and Alan Twaddle, of NYU in New York.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
AWARDS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
AL%20BOOM
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
SPECS
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
