key: cord-0017523-lcs7t2i9
authors: Ramanathan, Muthukumar; Ferguson, Ian D; Miao, Weili; Khavari, Paul A
title: SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 spike variants bind human ACE2 with increased affinity
date: 2021-05-19
journal: Lancet Infect Dis
DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00262-0
sha: 7b80746e1de4c51d20ef9e2633ca8b1176734c3a
doc_id: 17523
cord_uid: lcs7t2i9

nan

In the initial stage of infection, virions bind lung airway epithelial cells with kinetics governed in part by spike-ACE2 binding affinities. Enhanced affinity likely mediates increased infectivity by lowering the effective concentration of virions required for cell entry and is a convergent feature in more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants arising in multiple geographical regions. Finally, characterisation of binding between variant spike proteins and cognate human receptor See Online for appendix ACE2 on the basis of microscale thermophoresis represents a potential surveillance strategy for predicting enhanced transmissibility of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants harbouring novel spike mutations.

We declare no competing interests. 

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