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Omicron variant identified on 24 Nov 2021 in South Africa
WHO's Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution declared PANGO
(Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak Lineages) B.1.1.529 a variant of
concern (VOC) and designated it with the Greek letter omicron on 26 Nov
Large number of mutations
Uncertain behavior
Risk to bypass vaccination / Treatment
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Three key properties of a variant are likely to
influence the overall threat from it
Its transmissibility
(relative to circulating variants)
Itsvirulence
(ability to cause severe disease)
Its ability to evade
immune responses
(prior infection and vaccines & therapeutics)
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Omicron variant
Total of 60 mutations compared to the reference / ancestral variant
50 non-synonymous mutations
Changes in genetic material named nucleotide
Nucleotide substitution that changes corresponding amino acid in protein sequences
8 synonymous mutations (nucleotide substitution that does not change corresponding amino
acid in protein)
2 non-coding mutations (causes virus to synthesize protein at wrong place or wrong time)
Thirty-two mutations affect the spike protein, the main antigenic target of antibodies generated by
infections and of many vaccines widely administered
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Virus
Spike protein
It allows virus to penetrate host cells and cause infection
Plays key role in receptor recognition & cell membrane fusion
Epitope
It determines characteristics of a specific antigens
Part of antigen that binds to specific antigen receptor on surface of B cell (immunity cell which
make antibodies)
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Omicron variant concerns
Large number of mutations may reduce immunity
More infective in this regard than prior variants
Health services could be overwhelmed
Virus is losing epitope of antigen on its surface
Immune cells recognize and attach to epitope of antigen of the virus
Some of the antibodies and T cell clones made against earlier versions of the virus, or against
the vaccines may not be effective
Omicron tends to be better able to re-infect people who have been previously infected and received
some protection against COVID-19
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Multiplies around 70 times faster than the Delta variant in the bronchi (lung airways)
Less able to penetrate deep lung tissue
91 percent less fatal than the delta variant
51 percent less risk of hospitalization