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Both Covishield, Covaxin neutralise double mutant COVID-19: Studies

Among the biggest worries was the ability to vaccines to combat the double mutant

Covishield-Covaxin-bharat-biotech-covid-19-vaccine The Covishield and Covaxin vaccine candidates

Among the deadlier variants of COVID-19 spreading through India was the B.1.617 strain, more commonly known as 'double mutant'. This new strain, discovered in Maharashtra, Punjab and West Bengal, carries two mutations—E484Q and L452R—in the crucial spike protein part of the pathogen. This increases its transmissibility and ability to bypass the immune response. One of the biggest concerns was the ability to vaccines to combat the double mutant, which is more difficult for the immune system to recognise. 

Now, preliminary studies have shown that both Covishield (Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine) and Covaxin are efficient against the double mutant. "Preliminary results of a study have shown that Covishield vaccine protects against the B.1.617 variant of coronavirus, also known as the double mutant strain," Rakesh Mishra, director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology said on Thursday. He said the study was conducted by the CCMB, an institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). "Very preliminary but encouraging result: #Covishield protects against #B1617. Early results using in vitro neutralisation assay show that both convalescent (prior infection) sera and Covishield-vaccinated sera offer protection against the B.1.617 variant, aka #DoubleMutant," Mishra tweeted.

Earlier, the ICMR had also said that the indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, neutralises multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively works against the double mutant strain as well. 

"ICMR study shows Covaxin neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well," the ICMR tweeted.

ICMR-National Institute of Virology has successfully isolated and cultured multiple variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 virus: B.1.1.7 (the UK variant), B.1.1.28 (Brazil variant ) and B.1.351 (South Africa variant). ICMR-NIV has demonstrated the neutralisation potential of Covaxin against the UK variant and Brazil variant, the apex health research body said.

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