Study highlights changes within SARS-CoV-2 variants that could be exploited to design effective inhibitors
The infectious nature of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has given rise to several mutations which have led to the emergence of variants such as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P1, and B.1.617. These pathogenic lineages were originally detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, and India, respectively.
The widespread transmission of these variants has also had significant impacts on the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with new waves of the virus emerging because of a surge in infection rates around the world. As of June 30, 2021, COVID-19 has infected over 182 million people worldwide and has caused the deaths of almost 4 million people.