Increased Stability of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant over Ancestral Strain

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Structural and functional characterizations of infectivity and immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

Zhen Cui et al.

Summary: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is spreading rapidly worldwide due to its increased fitness, with spike structures that maintain stability for receptor recognition but compromise viral fusion efficiency. By altering amino acids and structures, it evades recognition by most antibodies, facilitating immune escape. The research sheds light on conserved regions for the development of broad-spectrum vaccines.

CELL (2022)

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Article Virology

Sequence analysis of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron in South Africa

Lulan Wang et al.

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)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Altered TMPRSS2 usage by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron impacts infectivity and fusogenicity

Bo Meng et al.

Summary: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has a higher affinity for ACE2 and can evade neutralizing antibodies more effectively compared to the Delta variant. A third dose of mRNA vaccine can provide enhanced protection. Omicron has lower replication in lung and gut cells and less efficiently cleaves its spike protein compared to Delta.

NATURE (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 following homologous and heterologous CoronaVac or BNT162b2 vaccination

Samuel M. S. Cheng et al.

Summary: Specific antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant decrease significantly after two doses of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac vaccines, but can be markedly increased with a booster dose of BNT162b2. Individuals who previously received two doses of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac showed reduced serum antibody titers against Omicron, while a BNT162b2 booster dose increased the antibody levels in the majority of individuals. This suggests mRNA vaccine boosters may be necessary in countries primarily using CoronaVac vaccines to combat the spread of Omicron.

NATURE MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Safety, tolerability and viral kinetics during SARS-CoV-2 human challenge in young adults

Ben Killingley et al.

Summary: This study establishes a new SARS-CoV-2 human challenge model and investigates the viral kinetics during primary infection. The findings have implications for public health recommendations and strategies to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

NATURE MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences