Omicron’s ability to evade antibodies does not impair ability to bind to cells

The video discusses a study from the journal Science on a variant capable of breakthrough infections affecting both vaccinated individuals and those previously infected. The variant's infectiousness is linked to 37 mutations in its spike protein, which help it evade antibodies from vaccines and monoclonal treatments. Despite expectations of a trade-off in binding ability, the study reveals that the variant's receptor binding domain has enhanced binding to human cells, while its interaction with antibodies is reduced.

What is a key characteristic of the variant discussed in the first section?

• It only affects unvaccinated individuals.

• It can cause breakthrough infections in vaccinated people.

• It is less infectious than previous variants.

• It does not evade antibodies.

How do the mutations in the spike protein affect the variant's ability to evade antibodies?

• They make the variant less infectious.

• They enhance the effectiveness of vaccines.

• They help the variant evade antibodies from vaccines.

• They have no impact on antibody evasion.

What was the expected trade-off regarding the variant's mutations?

• Increased ability to bind to cells but reduced infectiousness.

• Increased ability to bind to cells and increased infectiousness.

• Reduced ability to bind to cells but increased infectiousness.

• No change in binding ability or infectiousness.

What did the study using cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography reveal about the variant?

• The variant is less infectious than previously thought.

• The mutations do not affect the spike protein.

• The variant's ability to bind to human cells is reduced.

• The variant's ability to bind to human cells is enhanced.

How do the mutations affect the interaction with monoclonal antibodies?

• They reduce the effectiveness of almost all monoclonal antibodies.

• They have no effect on monoclonal antibodies.

• They increase the effectiveness of all monoclonal antibodies.

• They make monoclonal antibodies more effective against the variant.