SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants progressively adapt to human cells with altered host cell entry.

ABSTRACT: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant exhibits high transmissibility with a strong immune escape ability and causes frequent large-scale global infections by producing predominant subvariants. Here, using human upper/lower airway and intestinal cells, we examined the previously dominant BA.1-BA.5 and BA.2.75 subvariants, together with the recently emerged XBB/BQ lineages, in comparison to the former Delta variant. We observed a tendency for each virus to demonstrate higher growth capability than the previously dominant subvariants. Unlike human bronchial and intestinal cells, nasal epithelial cells accommodated the efficient entry of certain Omicron subvariants, similar to the Delta variant. In contrast to the Delta's reliance on cell-surface tran

SUBMITTER: Sakurai Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11423564 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature