Coronavirus mutation not interfere with vaccine development, minister said

Kamis, 3 September 2020 09:41 WIB

Archive-Minister for Research and Technology, Bambang Brodjonegoro. ANTARAFOTO/Puspa Perwitasari

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister for Research and Technology, Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, has said the D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, will not interfere with efforts to develop a vaccine against the disease.

"The effect of D614G, in essence, will not interfere with vaccine development efforts, as this mutation does not cause changes in the structure or function of the receptor-binding domain (RBD), which is part of the spike virus that is the target of the vaccine," the minister remarked at a press conference held by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He said that efforts to develop the Red and White vaccine and other vaccines will not be disturbed by the presence of the D614G mutation.

Meanwhile, Amin Soebandrio from the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, said that mutations would cause changes in the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but would not interfere with the RBD virus, which is the target of the vaccine.

"Changes caused by this mutation, even though occurring in spike proteins, they are at different locations, which means that the receptor-binding domain is not disturbed, and as long as the vaccine is aimed at RBD, it will not interfere with the performance of the vaccine," he explained.

Minister Brodjonegoro asked the public not to be overly panicked over information about mutations of the coronavirus, and encouraged people to remain vigilant in implementing health protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. (INE)

EDITED BY INE