Review
Virology
Yusha Araf, Fariya Akter, Yan-dong Tang, Rabeya Fatemi, Md Sorwer Alam Parvez, Chunfu Zheng, Md Golzar Hossain
Summary: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is a heavily mutated virus with a high risk of infection. Limited information is available regarding the genomics, transmissibility, and effectiveness of vaccines against this variant, emphasizing the need for further investigation.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Suresh Kumar, Thiviya S. Thambiraja, Kalimuthu Karuppanan, Gunasekaran Subramaniam
Summary: The emergence of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant, Omicron, has raised concerns due to its potential high affinity for human ACE2, indicating a higher transmission potential. Compared to the Delta variant, Omicron has a significantly different amino acid composition and protein structure, which may affect its stability and ACE2 binding.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Laura Vangeel, Winston Chiu, Steven De Jonghe, Piet Maes, Bram Slechten, Joren Raymenants, Emmanuel Andre, Pieter Leyssen, Johan Neyts, Dirk Jochmans
Summary: Remdesivir and its parent nucleoside, molnupiravir and its parent nucleoside, and the viral protease inhibitor nirmatrelvir have equipotent antiviral activity against the ancestral SARS-CoV2 strain and the variants of concern including Omicron.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Virology
Dandan Tian, Yanhong Sun, Huihong Xu, Qing Ye
Summary: The Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in Botswana in November 2021 and has since become the dominant strain in many countries. With a high number of mutations, it presents new challenges for preventing and controlling COVID-19. This review aims to provide a scientific reference by analyzing and summarizing the biological characteristics, epidemic features, immune escape, and vaccine reactivity of the Omicron variant.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Shailendra K. Saxena, Swatantra Kumar, Saniya Ansari, Janusz T. Paweska, Vimal K. Maurya, Anil K. Tripathi, Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim
Summary: Omicron is the latest variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2, with more mutations compared to the previous Delta variant. Fifteen of these mutations are located in the receptor-binding domain of the spike glycoprotein, which may affect transmissibility, infectivity, antibody neutralization, and vaccine efficacy. The study provides insights into the mutational hotspots of Omicron and its global impact on transmission, testing, and immunity.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Preeti Malik, Karan Patel, Candida Pinto, Richa Jaiswal, Raghavendra Tirupathi, Shreejith Pillai, Urvish Patel
Summary: This study evaluated the prevalence of poor quality of life in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) patients, finding it to be 59%. Persistent symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, anosmia, and sleep disturbances were reported. ICU admission and fatigue were significant factors impacting the poor quality of life in post-COVID-19 patients.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Lok Bahadur Shrestha, Charles Foster, William Rawlinson, Nicodemus Tedla, Rowena A. Bull
Summary: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is a major public health concern due to its high infectivity and antibody evasion. It has rapidly become the dominant variant worldwide and has evolved through several variants. The evolution of Omicron is thought to be influenced by zoonotic spillage, infection in immunocompromised individuals, and undiagnosed spread in the community. Current research suggests that Omicron is more infectious than the original Wuhan-Hu-1 and Delta variants, but less severe in terms of its impact on lung tissue. Vaccines have shown reduced effectiveness against Omicron, but booster shots can improve efficacy. Broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have limited effectiveness against Omicron, with some exceptions. New variants, such as BA.4 and BA.5, are emerging and are reported to be more transmissible and resistant to immunity generated by previous variants and monoclonal antibodies.
REVIEWS IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Vikram Thakur, Radha Kanta Ratho
Summary: The emergence of the OMICRON variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become a global concern, spreading to over 77 countries and sparking hypotheses about its origins and infectivity. The detection of mutations in the Spike protein's RBD region is concerning, as it may surpass vaccine immunity.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Lulan Wang, Genhong Cheng
Summary: The discovery of the Omicron variant has sparked global concerns about its mutations, transmission, and immune escape properties. Current research suggests that the variant may impact viral infectivity and host immunity, and it may evolve from clade 20B.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Virology
Shou-Jiang Gao, Haitao Guo, Guangxiang Luo
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Kimihito Ito, Chayada Piantham, Hiroshi Nishiura
Summary: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the globe, with 758 confirmed cases in Denmark. Based on Danish data, the effective reproduction number of Omicron is estimated to be 3.19 times higher than that of the Delta variant. It is expected that by December 28, 2021, over 95% of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Denmark will be caused by the Omicron variant.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Nicola L. Bragazzi, Jude D. Kong, Naim Mahroum, Christina Tsigalou, Rola Khamisy-Farah, Manlio Converti, Jianhong Wu
Summary: An emerging global outbreak of monkeypox infection is spreading rapidly, with clinical characteristics and transmission route different from previous outbreaks. Preliminary risk factors have been identified, but further research is needed.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Virology
Soheila Montazersaheb, Seyed Mahdi Hosseiniyan Khatibi, Mohammad Saeid Hejazi, Vahideh Tarhriz, Afsaneh Farjami, Faramarz Ghasemian Sorbeni, Raheleh Farahzadi, Tohid Ghasemnejad
Summary: COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 poses a significant global health threat, leading to pneumonia and ARDS in patients. Cytokine storm, characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins and TNF-alpha, contributes to lung damage in ARDS patients. Suppressing the inflammatory response may be a possible strategy for managing COVID-19.
Review
Virology
Ikbel Hadj Hassine
Summary: Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in December 2019, there have been over 242 million confirmed cases and nearly 5 million deaths worldwide. Nine Covid-19 vaccine candidates based on the original Wuhan-Hu-1 strain have efficacy over 50%, but face challenges from emerging variants and rare adverse events. Additional effective vaccines are still needed to meet global demand, with promising candidates progressing to clinical studies.
REVIEWS IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Santenna Chenchula, Padmavathi Karunakaran, Sushil Sharma, Madhavrao Chavan
Summary: This article discusses the importance and durability of COVID-19 vaccine boosters in the context of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. A systematic review of 27 published studies has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine boosters against the Omicron variant.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Jie Cai, Lulu Sun, Frank J. Gonzalez
Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are diverse intestinal diseases threatening an increasing number of individuals as their lifestyles become westernized. Recent research has found that gut microbiota-derived metabolites play a crucial role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and modulating the progression of intestinal diseases.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2022)
Article
Virology
Mahmoud Kandeel, Maged E. M. Mohamed, Hany M. Abd El-Lateef, Katharigatta N. Venugopala, Hossam S. El-Beltagi
Summary: The study investigates the evolutionary relationships and similarities between the Omicron variant and other SARS-CoV-2 variants, finding that the Omicron variant forms a new monophyletic clade distant from other variants.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Christoph Jung, Dorota Kmiec, Lennart Koepke, Fabian Zech, Timo Jacob, Konstantin M. J. Sparrer, Frank Kirchhoff
Summary: The recently identified Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is the fifth variant of concern and is characterized by significant changes in the viral Spike protein, possibly leading to increased transmission efficiency and evasion of neutralizing antibodies. Despite quickly outcompeting the Delta variant, Omicron appears to be overall less pathogenic than other variants.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sandile Cele, Farina Karim, Gila Lustig, James Emmanuel San, Tandile Hermanus, Houriiyah Tegally, Jumari Snyman, Thandeka Moyo-Gwete, Eduan Wilkinson, Mallory Bernstein, Khadija Khan, Shi-Hsia Hwa, Sasha W. Tilles, Lavanya Singh, Jennifer Giandhari, Ntombifuthi Mthabela, Matilda Mazibuko, Yashica Ganga, Bernadett Gosnell, Salim S. Abdool Karim, Willem Hanekom, Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Thumbi Ndung'u, Richard J. Lessells, Penny L. Moore, Mahomed-Yunus S. Moosa, Tulio de Oliveira, Alex Sigal
Summary: Characterizing the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in an individual with advanced HIV disease in South Africa, this study found that the evolved virus showed immune escape of vaccines and enhanced escape of Delta immunity. This suggests that immune-compromised hosts may play a significant role in the evolution of the virus.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Wiku B. Adisasmito, Salama Almuhairi, Casey Barton Behravesh, Pepe Bilivogui, Salome A. Bukachi, Natalia Casas, Natalia Cediel Becerra, Dominique F. Charron, Abhishek Chaudhary, Janice R. Ciacci Zanella, Andrew A. Cunningham, Osman Dar, Nitish Debnath, Baptiste Dungu, Elmoubasher Farag, George F. Gao, David T. S. Hayman, Margaret Khaitsa, Marion P. G. Koopmans, Catherine Machalaba, John S. Mackenzie, Wanda Markotter, Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Serge Morand, Vyacheslav Smolenskiy, Lei Zhou
