New tool predicts changes that may make COVID variants more infectious

Researchers have created a novel framework that can predict with reasonable accuracy the amino-acid changes in the virus' spike protein that may improve its binding to human cells and confer increased infectivity to the virus. The tool could enable the computational surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and provide advance warning of potentially dangerous variants with an even higher binding affinity potential. This can aid in the early implementation of public health measures to prevent the virus's spread and perhaps even may inform vaccine booster formulations.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210929163800.htm