The coronavirus variant, originally discovered in the United Kingdom and spreading around the world, seems to be developing a mutation that scientists fear will help the virus "fool" vaccines.

The mutation was discovered in variants identified in South Africa and Brazil. Researchers believe that it allows the virus to get rid of antibodies produced by the body, either after immunization or a previous infection with the new coronavirus. Thus, vaccines and certain antibody-based drugs may no longer work as well against COVID-19 .

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11 cases of the variant, called B.1.1.7, had the E484K mutation from a data set of over 200,000 sequencers in the United Kingdom, the British Public Health Agency said.

Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, explained that the mutation was a "concern."

The mutation could also affect the duration of the antibody response

The fact that the variant discovered in the United Kingdom seems to acquire this mutation "shows that the virus most likely adapts to our immune response," Young said.

The variant identified in South Africa "could be able to more effectively re-infect individuals who have previously been infected with the original form of the virus," Young added. "This is largely due to the fact that the E484K mutation would have weakened the immune response," the virologist said.

At the same time, the mutation could affect the duration of the antibody response, and the variant detected in the United Kingdom has been sequenced so far in 55 countries.

When mutations can become worrisome

Vaccine manufacturer Novavax has announced that its vaccine has been less effective for the South African variant . Johnson & Johnson reported that its serum was less effective on the South African variant, and scientists have suggested that this is caused by the E484K mutation.

Pfizer and Moderna reported that their vaccines work, but at a lower level, against laboratory-created variants that contain this mutation. However, no company has tested real coronavirus variants yet.

Mutations occur when a virus reproduces and creates errors. This is a normal process, but mutations become worrisome when they affect the behavior of viruses.

Phenomenon common in influenza viruses, but less common in coronaviruses

The UK Public Health Agency explained that preliminary information suggests that several "acquisition events" had caused the E484K mutation.

The mutation could also have come from someone infected with both variants identified in South Africa or Brazil, as well as the British version. This phenomenon is observed in influenza viruses, but is less common in coronaviruses, according to Science Alert .

Young also said that no matter what changes occur in B.1.1.7 or another variant of the virus, standard measures to limit transmission, such as hand washing and physical distancing, would help prevent infection.