Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lidia Sanchez-Morales, Jose M. Sanchez-Vizcaino, Marta Perez-Sancho, Lucas Dominguez, Sandra Barroso-Arevalo
Summary: The study found the presence of the Omicron variant in dogs and cats living with infected owners in Spain. Despite 10.13% of these pets testing positive for RT-qPCR, none of them showed any clinical signs and the viral loads were low. This suggests a lower virulence of this variant in infected cats and dogs.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frederik Plesner Lyngse, Carsten Thure Kirkeby, Matthew Denwood, Lasse Engbo Christiansen, Kare Molbak, Camilla Holten Moller, Robert Leo Skov, Tyra Grove Krause, Morten Rasmussen, Raphael Niklaus Sieber, Thor Bech Johannesen, Troels Lillebaek, Jannik Fonager, Anders Fomsgaard, Frederik Trier Moller, Marc Stegger, Maria Overvad, Katja Spiess, Laust Hvas Mortensen
Summary: This study investigates the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.2 within households using nationwide Danish data. The results show that BA.2 is more transmissible than BA.1 and has increased susceptibility of infection for unvaccinated individuals. However, BA.2 does not increase the infectiousness of breakthrough infections from vaccinated individuals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikita D. Yolshin, Andrey B. Komissarov, Kirill V. Varchenko, Tamila D. Musaeva, Artem V. Fadeev, Dmitry A. Lioznov
Summary: Whole genome sequencing is the best tool to track virus evolution and variant spread, but its ability to analyze a large number of samples is still inferior to qPCR. Advanced qPCR methods are needed for epidemiological and clinical research to quickly and affordably identify emerging variants and collect data on their spread. This study designed a one-step RT-qPCR assay for multiplex detection of the Omicron lineage, which showed high sensitivity and specificity and was cross-validated by WGS.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taewoo Kim, Kyoung Il Min, Jeong-Sun Yang, Jun Won Kim, Junhyung Cho, Yun Ho Kim, Jeong Seok Lee, Young Tae Kim, Kyung-Chang Kim, Jeong Yeon Kim, Kwon Joong Na, Joo-Yeon Lee, Young Soek Ju
Summary: This study combines human alveolar organoids and single-cell transcriptome sequencing to evaluate the relative infectivity of four highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants. The results show that the Omicron variant is 5- to 7-fold more infectious to human alveolar cells than the other variants at the initial stage of infection.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ewen Callaway
Summary: Early studies indicate that the BA.2 lineage may contribute to the prolongation of the Omicron wave.
Article
Biology
Fulvia Mazzaferri, Massimo Mirandola, Alessia Savoldi, Pasquale De Nardo, Matteo Morra, Maela Tebon, Maddalena Armellini, Giulia De Luca, Lucrezia Calandrino, Lolita Sasset, Denise D'Elia, Emanuela Sozio, Elisa Danese, Davide Gibellini, Isabella Monne, Giovanna Scroccaro, Nicola Magrini, Annamaria Cattelan, Carlo Tascini, Evelina Tacconelli
Summary: This study compared the clinical efficacy of different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Omicron variant of concern (VOC). The results showed that early treatment with sotrovimab reduced the time to recovery, while casirivimab/imdevimab may help prevent COVID-19 progression. However, the generalizability of the results is limited due to the early discontinuation of the trial.
Article
Virology
Philippe Corbisier, Mauro Petrillo, Antonio Marchini, Maddalena Querci, Gerhard Buttinger, Meriem Bekliz, Katja Spiess, Charlotta Polacek, Anders Fomsgaard, Guy Van den Eede
Summary: A RT-PCR assay was developed for the specific detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern. The method demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, allowing for rapid and accurate identification of the Omicron variant.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Priyanka Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Kumar Tripathi, Deepali Gupta, Poorvi Vishwakarma, Uddipan Das, Punit Kaur
Summary: This study analyzed the genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 variants and their phylogenetic relationships. The findings showed that the delta and omicron variants have higher transmissibility and severity. This study provides a foundation for developing novel therapeutics and vaccine candidates against the virus.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Farid Rahimi, Amin Talebi Bezmin Abadi
Summary: Millions of people have died due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relentless nature of the virus should not be underestimated. The Omicron variant, believed to have originated from Africa, carries the highest number of mutations detected in a betacoronavirus. The high hospitalization rates caused by the Omicron variant have led to the reimplementation of precautionary measures and border closures, even in countries with herd immunity. Accurate surveillance systems are needed to guide the implementation of hygiene practices and restrictions. The development of vaccines targeting the variants is crucial as the pandemic continues to evolve.
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
McKenzie Prillaman
Summary: One 'superspreader' infected with the Omicron variant sheds three times more viral RNA compared to those infected with the Alpha or Delta variants.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soumya G. Remesh, Gregory E. Merz, Axel F. Brilot, Un Seng Chio, Alexandrea N. Rizo, Thomas H. Pospiech Jr, Irene Lui, Mathew T. Laurie, Jeff Glasgow, Chau Q. Le, Yun Zhang, Devan Diwanji, Evelyn Hernandez, Jocelyne Lopez, Hevatib Mehmood, Komal Ishwar Pawar, Sergei Pourmal, Amber M. Smith, Fengbo Zhou, Joseph DeRisi, Tanja Kortemme, Oren S. Rosenberg, Anum Glasgow, Kevin K. Leung, James A. Wells, Kliment A. Verba
Summary: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has 15 mutations in the Spike receptor-binding domain (Spike-RBD), which makes most clinical monoclonal antibodies ineffective against the wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Researchers have engineered the ACE2 host entry receptor to tightly bind to the wild-type RBD, preventing viral entry into host cells. Cryo-EM structures of the engineered receptor traps in complex with the stabilized Spike ectodomain were determined, providing a mechanistic explanation for their high-affinity binding to Omicron-RBD. The ACE2 receptor traps have shown potent neutralization against Omicron and Delta pseudotyped viruses, offering alternative therapeutic options against this evolving virus.
Article
Microbiology
Antonios Kritikos, Giorgia Caruana, Catherine Lazor-Blanchet, Michael Currat, Jean-Daniel Chiche, Peter Vollenweider, Pierre-Alexandre Bart, Onya Opota, Gilbert Greub
Summary: This study compared the sensitivities of nasopharyngeal and saliva RT-PCR and assessed the diagnostic performances of rapid antigen testing (RAT) in both sample types. The results showed that nasopharyngeal RT-PCR remains the gold standard for screening the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, while salivary RT-PCR can be used as an alternative when nasopharyngeal sampling is not feasible. The use of rapid antigen testing should be limited to settings without access to molecular diagnostic methods.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hitesh Dighe, Prasad Sarkale, Deepak Y. Patil, Sreelekshmy Mohandas, Anita M. Shete, Rima R. Sahay, Rajen Lakra, Savita Patil, Triparna Majumdar, Pranita Gawande, Jyoti Yemul, Pratiksha Vedpathak, Pragya D. Yadav
Summary: This study evaluated the susceptibility and permissiveness of 11 cell lines to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1.1 variant. It was found that Vero CCL-81, Vero E6, Vero/hSLAM, MA-104, and Calu-3 cells exhibited characteristic cytopathic effects, increased viral load, and productive Omicron replication.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heidi Ledford
Summary: Despite a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 infections in some nations, there is still concern about when the next wave of the pandemic will hit and what form it will take.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Steven L. Shafer
Summary: The viruses do not necessarily evolve towards less virulence, but simply select those that excel at reproduction. The omicron variant may have evolved within a single immunocompromised host, with a need to establish a balance between lethality and the host's survival.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
