Chinese researchers found N501Y mutation in a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 virus strain. In the mouse model, the N501Y mutation was found to increase the binding affinity of the virus with the mouse ACE2 receptor. The mutation in the mouse-adapted strain also caused increased virulence. In a preliminary report posted on December 19, Dr. Andrew Rambaut from […]

N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 virus causes increased infectivity, disease severity in mice — Science Chronicle

Interesting article and the last paragraphs must be emphasized.

Dr. Gagandeep Kang, Professor of Microbiology at CMC Vellore, however, cautions that emergence of N501Y mutation has been seen on other occasions. According to her, the N501Y mutation in a strain that has been adapted to infect a mouse model cannot be compared with the N501Y mutation seen in the new variant infecting humans. And the severity of diseases caused by the mutation in the mouse model has no relevance to humans, she says.

“At this time, one can only say the mutation increases binding affinity in humans and hence increased transmissibility. Nothing can be said about disease severity,” says Dr. Kang.