SARS-CoV-2 spike protein discovery could pave way for COVID-19 vaccine

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein discovery could pave way for COVID-19 vaccine

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By Sally Robertson, B.Sc.Apr 27 2020

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, have made an important discovery about a viral fusion protein found on the surface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that could help researchers develop a vaccine.

Their finding that a mutation in the protein’s cleavage site disrupts binding to host cells could be used to develop an attenuated version of the virus.