3.8 Article

Clinical phenotypes and outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants BA.2, BA.5 and BQ.1.1 in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a prospective, multicenter cohort study

Related references

Note: Only part of the references are listed.
Article Infectious Diseases

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 positive passengers on flights from China to Italy, December 2022

Federica Novazzi et al.

Summary: With an increase in COVID-19 cases at the end of 2022 in China, some countries have started or expanded testing and genomic surveillance of travelers. Screening results in Italy in late December 2022 showed that 22.7% of flight passengers from two Chinese provinces tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Whole genome sequencing revealed Omicron variants among the positive samples, consistent with data from China.

EUROSURVEILLANCE (2023)

Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Neutralization against BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB from mRNA Bivalent Booster

Meredith E. Davis-Gardner et al.

Summary: One or two monovalent vaccine boosters resulted in a significant decrease in neutralization activity against omicron subvariants. The BA.5-containing bivalent booster improved neutralizing activity against all omicron subvariants.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2023)

Letter Infectious Diseases

Antigenic mapping of emerging SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants and XBB.1

Anna Z. Mykytyn et al.

LANCET MICROBE (2023)

Article Pharmacology & Pharmacy

Evaluation of antiviral drugs against newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants

Junhyung Cho et al.

Summary: The newly emerged Omicron subvariants, including BQ.1.1, BF.7, BA.5.2, XBB.1, XBB.1.5, and BN.1.9, have become prevalent global strains (>5% global prevalence) from November 2022 to February 2023. These subvariants are resistant to several therapeutic antibodies and the antiviral efficacy of current drugs needs to be evaluated. However, the study showed that current antivirals still retain their effectiveness against the newly emerged Omicron subvariants.

ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH (2023)

Review Microbiology

SARS-CoV-2 variant evasion of monoclonal antibodies based on in vitro studies

MacGregor Cox et al.

Summary: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an important treatment option for severe COVID-19, but the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants has led to evasion of mAb-induced protection. Spike protein amino acid substitutions, both at epitope and non-epitope positions, play a role in resistance to mAb neutralization. Understanding the dynamics of viral evasion can inform surveillance and the development of novel mAb therapies.

NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY (2023)

Article Environmental Sciences

Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants in October-November 2022 in Italy: detection of XBB.1, BA.2.75 and rapid spread of the BQ.1 lineage

G. La Rosa et al.

Summary: This study provides new insights into the occurrence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs) in Italy in October and November 2022, using urban wastewater testing. The results suggest an increased dominance of the BQ.1/BQ.1.1 lineage in late 2022, and the detection of previously unseen variants in Italian wastewater.

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT (2023)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Resistance of Omicron subvariants BA.2.75.2, BA.4.6, and BQ.1.1 to neutralizing antibodies

Delphine Planas et al.

Summary: Convergent evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 lineages have led to the emergence of several new subvariants, including BA.2.75.2, BA.4.6, and BQ.1.1. These subvariants carry additional mutations in the spike protein, potentially increasing transmissibility and evading immune responses. The study found that the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies and serum from vaccinated individuals against these subvariants varies.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2023)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Convergent evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants leading to the emergence of BQ.1.1 variant

Jumpei Ito et al.

Summary: This study evaluates the importance of 5 mutations and characterizes the virological properties of variant BQ.1.1. Younger Omicron lineages are found to be more likely to acquire these mutations, which increase viral fitness. BQ.1.1 variant evades BA.2 and BA.5 infections more efficiently and exhibits lower pathogenicity in hamsters compared to BA.5. This study provides insights into the convergent evolution of known Omicron lineages as of 2022.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2023)

Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Circulation of Omicron Lineages — United States, January 2022–May 2023

Kevin C. Ma et al.

MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT (2023)

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Alarming antibody evasion properties of rising SARS-CoV-2 BQ and XBB subvariants

Qian Wang et al.

Summary: The BQ and XBB subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, with additional spike mutations, are rapidly expanding and have altered antibody evasion properties. Neutralization of BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB, and XBB.1 by vaccinated individuals and infected persons' sera was significantly impaired, including those boosted with a WA1/BA.5 bivalent mRNA vaccine. The titers against BQ and XBB subvariants were much lower than observed before, indicating that these subvariants pose a serious threat to current COVID-19 vaccines and render all authorized antibodies inactive.
News Item Medicine, General & Internal

Nature does things well

[Anonymous]

EXERCER-LA REVUE FRANCOPHONE DE MEDECINE GENERALE (2022)

Letter Critical Care Medicine

Omicron Variant in the Critical Care Units of the Paris Metropolitan Area: The Reality Research Group

Antoine Vieillard-Baron et al.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE (2022)

Article Virology

SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Characteristics and Clinical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Diversity in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Slim Fourati et al.

Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 variants and clinical outcomes. The findings showed that the alpha variant did not increase the risk of mortality compared to other variants. Additionally, there was no association between specific variants or mutations and day-28 mortality.

VIRUSES-BASEL (2022)

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 subvariants, including BA.4 and BA.5

Izumi Kimura et al.

Summary: After the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, several BA.2 subvariants, including BA.2.9.1, BA.2.11, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5, emerged in multiple countries. Statistical analysis showed that these BA.2 subvariants have higher effective reproduction numbers than the original BA.2. Neutralization experiments revealed that the immunity induced by BA.1/2 infections is less effective against BA.4/5. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 replicate more efficiently in human alveolar epithelial cells than BA.2, with BA.4/5 being more fusogenic. The study also provided the structure of the BA.4/5 spike receptor-binding domain and investigated the substitutions in the BA.4/5 spike that play a role in ACE2 binding and immune evasion. Additionally, experiments using hamsters suggested that BA.4/5 is more pathogenic than BA.2. The multiscale investigations suggest that the risk of BA.2 subvariants, particularly BA.4/5, to global health is greater than that of the original BA.2.
Article Microbiology

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant

Akatsuki Saito et al.

Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant, emerged in May 2022, demonstrates distinct virological properties compared to its ancestors BA.2 and BA.5. It exhibits higher effective reproduction number and sensitivity to antibodies, as well as greater affinity for the human receptor ACE2 and pathogenicity in hamsters.

CELL HOST & MICROBE (2022)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Clinical phenotypes and outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron in critically ill French patients with COVID-19

Nicolas de Prost et al.

Summary: In this prospective study, it was found that the clinical phenotype of patients infected with the Omicron variant differs from those infected with the Delta variant. Immunocompromised patients infected with the Omicron variant have a significantly higher mortality rate compared to non-immunocompromised patients. However, no association was observed between specific sublineages or viral genome polymorphisms/mutational profiles of the Omicron variant and mortality.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2022)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

High throughput detection and genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 using COVIDSeq next-generation sequencing

Rahul C. Bhoyar et al.

Summary: The study utilized the COVIDSeq protocol for high-throughput detection of SARS-CoV-2, showing high concordance with RT-PCR and potential as a confirmatory test. It also provided insights into the genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 samples, identifying several new variants.

PLOS ONE (2021)

Article Critical Care Medicine

Clinical characteristics and day-90 outcomes of 4244 critically ill adults with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study

Matthieu Schmidt et al.

Summary: Among more than 4000 critically ill patients with COVID-19 admitted to our ICUs, 90-day mortality was 31% and decreased from 42 to 25% over the study period. Mortality was higher in older, diabetic, obese and severe ARDS patients.

INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE (2021)

Article Microbiology

A dynamic nomenclature proposal for SARS-CoV-2 lineages to assist genomic epidemiology

Andrew Rambaut et al.

NATURE MICROBIOLOGY (2020)

Article Infectious Diseases

A minimal common outcome measure set for COVID-19 clinical research

J. C. Marshall et al.

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2020)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Factors associated with COVID-19-related death using OpenSAFELY

Elizabeth J. Williamson et al.

NATURE (2020)

Article Medicine, General & Internal

A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people

K Rockwood et al.

CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL (2005)