Nature Communications (Mar 2022)

Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the human host

  • Antoni G. Wrobel,
  • Donald J. Benton,
  • Chloë Roustan,
  • Annabel Borg,
  • Saira Hussain,
  • Stephen R. Martin,
  • Peter B. Rosenthal,
  • John J. Skehel,
  • Steven J. Gamblin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28768-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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The SARS-CoV-2 spike has been evolving in the human population. The variants of concern alpha and beta evolved to optimise spike openness and so ability to bind its receptor ACE2, the affinity towards the receptor, and stability upon receptor binding.