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NEW—BioNTech founder—“The vaccine contains >1270 amino acids, & only 9 of them changed—so 99% of the [spike] protein is still same”, says Şahin. 
He also points out #SARSCoV2 vaccine’s immune response is *polyclonal*, so antibodies & T cells attack multiple sites on protein.
![NEW—BioNTech founder—“The vaccine contains >1270 amino acids, & only 9 of them changed—so 99% of the [spike] protein is still same”, says Şahin. He also points out #SARSCoV2 vaccine’s immune response is *polyclonal*, so antibodies & T cells attack multiple sites on protein.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ep1IKdSXMAAjHIt.jpg "NEW—BioNTech founder—“The vaccine contains >1270 amino acids, & only 9 of them changed—so 99% of the [spike] protein is still same”, says Şahin. He also points out #SARSCoV2 vaccine’s immune response is *polyclonal*, so antibodies & T cells attack multiple sites on protein.")
2) BioNTech #COVID19 vaccine is aka the Pfizer vaccine.
He also adds, “scientifically it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine also can deal with the new virus”
He predicts vaccine response studies completed in 2 weeks. 
He also adds, “scientifically it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine also can deal with the new virus”He predicts vaccine response studies completed in 2 weeks.
3) Latest UK 
#SARSCoV2 mutation updates overnight. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1341231738249486337
#SARSCoV2 mutation updates overnight. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1341231738249486337
4) The new UK and South Africa 
mutations are worrisome though, especially their implications for convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies. Detailed discussion why below in this master thread 
https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1340911632147488768
and South Africa mutations are worrisome though, especially their implications for convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies. Detailed discussion why below in this master thread https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1340911632147488768
5) one mutation creates an amino acid change at 501, which lies within the critical RECEPTOR BINDING DOMAIN (ie the “docking sites” on the spike to human receptor). Look in 3D where the damn N501Y mutation is—right *inside a docking site*!
Functional mutation? Unclear yet.
in 3D where the damn N501Y mutation is—right *inside a docking site*! Functional mutation? Unclear yet.
6) The N501Y mutation is problematic for other reasons too (see thread branches above in #2 and #3 for more). And the 69-70 amino acid deletions also tricky—it’s near the critical N-terminal domain, and near where monoclonal antibodies (think MAB drugs like Regeneron) binds.
branches above in #2 and #3 for more). And the 69-70 amino acid deletions also tricky—it’s near the critical N-terminal domain, and near where monoclonal antibodies (think MAB drugs like Regeneron) binds.
