Prem Chapagain of FIU has identified how COVID-19 variants invade human cells. The variants are able to break in and infect by flexing a spike protein that works like a lock pick to access the cell. Chapagain is continuing to research possible future variants and how they could impact vaccine effectiveness.

“Think of it as a moldable key,” said Chapagain. “The key itself is flexible and it finds the right groove and fits better because of that flexibility. If you can contain it everywhere and vaccinate most of the world’s population, you don’t have the breeding ground for the virus.”

• Prem Chapagain