Elucidating the role of N440K mutation in SARS-CoV-2 spike - ACE-2 binding affinity and COVID-19 severity by virtual screening, molecular docking and dynamics approach.

COVID-19 has become a public health concern around the world. The frequency of N440K variant was higher during the second wave in South India. The mutation was observed in the Receptor Binding Domain region (RBD) of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein.