Why SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 is more virulent The UK and South African variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been suggested to have higher infectivity than the ancestral strain. The question remains, are they also more dangerous? Do they escape neutralization by antibodies elicited by the currently available vaccines? A new preprint research paper by scientists from Sweden and India attempts to provide a preliminary answer to these questions using computational modeling. The research, which appears on the bioRxiv* server, predicts increased virulence with the new variant. If validated, this could help public health authorities prepare for new variants' possible impact as they emerge.