COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2
Summary The Omicron variant rapidly became the dominant SARS‐CoV‐2 strain in South Africa and elsewhere. This review explores whether this rise was due to an increased transmission of the variant or its escape from population immunity by an extensively mutated spike protein. The mutations affected t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Microbial Biotechnology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.14064 |
| _version_ | 1811317834824810496 |
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| author | Harald Brüssow |
| author_facet | Harald Brüssow |
| author_sort | Harald Brüssow |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary The Omicron variant rapidly became the dominant SARS‐CoV‐2 strain in South Africa and elsewhere. This review explores whether this rise was due to an increased transmission of the variant or its escape from population immunity by an extensively mutated spike protein. The mutations affected the structure of the spike protein leading to the loss of neutralization by most, but not all, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Omicron also shows substantial immune escape from serum antibodies in convalescent patients and vaccinees. A booster immunization increased, however, the titre and breadth of antiviral antibody response. The cellular immune response against Omicron was largely preserved explaining a satisfying protection of boosted vaccinees against severe infections. Clinicians observed less severe infection with Omicron, but other scientists warned that this must not necessarily reflect less intrinsic virulence. However, in animal experiments with mice and hamsters, Omicron infections also displayed a lesser virulence than previous VOCs and lung functions were less compromised. Cell biologists demonstrated that Omicron differs from Delta by preferring the endocytic pathway for cell entry over fusion with the plasma membrane which might explain Omicron’s distinct replication along the respiratory tract compared with Delta. Omicron represents a distinct evolutionary lineage that deviated from the mainstream of evolving SARS‐CoV‐2 already in mid‐2020 raising questions about where it circulated before getting widespread in December 2021. The role of Omicron for the future trajectory of the COVID‐19 pandemic is discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:15:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb130048c3b5406d96812b496f0b0c86 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-7915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:15:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbial Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb130048c3b5406d96812b496f0b0c862022-12-22T02:47:22ZengWileyMicrobial Biotechnology1751-79152022-07-011571927193910.1111/1751-7915.14064COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2Harald Brüssow0Laboratory of Gene Technology Department of Biosystems KU Leuven Leuven BelgiumSummary The Omicron variant rapidly became the dominant SARS‐CoV‐2 strain in South Africa and elsewhere. This review explores whether this rise was due to an increased transmission of the variant or its escape from population immunity by an extensively mutated spike protein. The mutations affected the structure of the spike protein leading to the loss of neutralization by most, but not all, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Omicron also shows substantial immune escape from serum antibodies in convalescent patients and vaccinees. A booster immunization increased, however, the titre and breadth of antiviral antibody response. The cellular immune response against Omicron was largely preserved explaining a satisfying protection of boosted vaccinees against severe infections. Clinicians observed less severe infection with Omicron, but other scientists warned that this must not necessarily reflect less intrinsic virulence. However, in animal experiments with mice and hamsters, Omicron infections also displayed a lesser virulence than previous VOCs and lung functions were less compromised. Cell biologists demonstrated that Omicron differs from Delta by preferring the endocytic pathway for cell entry over fusion with the plasma membrane which might explain Omicron’s distinct replication along the respiratory tract compared with Delta. Omicron represents a distinct evolutionary lineage that deviated from the mainstream of evolving SARS‐CoV‐2 already in mid‐2020 raising questions about where it circulated before getting widespread in December 2021. The role of Omicron for the future trajectory of the COVID‐19 pandemic is discussed.https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.14064 |
| spellingShingle | Harald Brüssow COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2 Microbial Biotechnology |
| title | COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2 |
| title_full | COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2 |
| title_fullStr | COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2 |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2 |
| title_short | COVID‐19: Omicron – the latest, the least virulent, but probably not the last variant of concern of SARS‐CoV‐2 |
| title_sort | covid 19 omicron the latest the least virulent but probably not the last variant of concern of sars cov 2 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.14064 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haraldbrussow covid19omicronthelatesttheleastvirulentbutprobablynotthelastvariantofconcernofsarscov2 |