Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
J Med Virol. 2022 Apr;94(4):1728-1733. doi: 10.1002/jmv.27516. Epub 2021 Dec 27.
Despite the worldwide vaccination, the COVID-19 pandemic continues as SARS-CoV-2 evolves into numerous variants. Since the first identification of the novel SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) Omicron on November 24th, 2021, from an immunocompromised patient in South Africa, the variant has overtaken Delta as the predominant lineage in South Africa and has quickly spread to over 40 countries. Here, we provide an initial molecular characterization of the Omicron variant through analyzing a large number of mutations, especially in the spike protein receptor-binding domain with their potential effects on viral infectivity and host immunity. Our analysis indicates that the Omicron variant has two subclades and may evolve from clade 20B instead of the currently dominant Delta variant. In addition, we have also identified mutations that may affect the ACE2 receptor and/or antibody bindings. Our study has raised additional questions on the evolution, transmission, virulence, and immune escape properties of this new Omicron variant.
尽管全球范围内已经开展了疫苗接种，但 COVID-19 大流行仍在继续，因为 SARS-CoV-2 已经进化出了许多变体。自 2021 年 11 月 24 日首次在南非的一名免疫功能低下的患者中发现新型 SARS-CoV-2 变体关注（VOC）奥密克戎以来，该变体已取代德尔塔成为南非的主要谱系，并迅速传播到 40 多个国家。在这里，我们通过分析大量突变，特别是棘突蛋白受体结合域中的突变，对奥密克戎变体进行了初步的分子特征分析，及其对病毒感染力和宿主免疫的潜在影响。我们的分析表明，奥密克戎变体有两个亚系，可能是从 20B 谱系进化而来的，而不是目前占主导地位的德尔塔变体。此外，我们还鉴定出了可能影响 ACE2 受体和/或抗体结合的突变。我们的研究对这种新的奥密克戎变体的进化、传播、毒力和免疫逃避特性提出了更多的问题。
