University of British Columbia researchers unveiled first molecular images of B.1.1.7 COVID-19 mutation
On May 3, 2021, University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers were the first in the world to publish structural images of the N501Y mutation on the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteinﾗa change believed to be partly responsible for the highly infectious nature and rapid spread of variant B.1.1.7.
The pictures, taken at near-atomic resolution, provided critical insight as to why the B.1.1.7 variant ‘first detected in the U.K and accounted for a growing number of cases across Canad ‘ was more infectious.
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Source: University of British Columbia
Credit: Microscopy: N501Y spike protein mutant, shown (in blue) bound to two copies of the ACE2 receptor (in red), courtesy of the University of British Columbia.
