SARS-CoV-2 variants retain high airborne transmissibility by different strategies.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 variants evolve to balance immune evasion and airborne transmission, yet the mechanisms remain unclear. In hamsters, first-wave, Alpha, and Delta variants transmitted efficiently via aerosols. Alpha emitted fewer viral particles than first-wave virus but compensated with a lower infectious dose (ID₅₀). Delta exhibited higher airborne emission but required a higher ID₅₀. A fall in airborne emission of infectious Delta virus over time after infection correlated with a decrease in its infectivity to RNA ratio in nasal wash and a decrease in contagiousness to sentinel animals. Omicron subvariants (BA.1, EG.5.1, BA.2.86, JN.1) displayed varying levels of airborne transmissibility, partially correlated with airborne emissions. Mutations in the non-spike genes con

SUBMITTER: Zhou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12045995 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature