Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Karim SSA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8640673 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Karim Salim S Abdool SSA Karim Quarraisha Abdool QA
Lancet (London, England) 20211203 10317
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Project description:ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of post coronavirus disease (COVID-19) condition of the Omicron variant in comparison to other strains.Study designA single-center cross-sectional study.MethodsPatients who recovered from Omicron COVID-19 infection (Omicron group) were interviewed via telephone, and patients infected with other strains (control group) were surveyed via a self-reporting questionnaire. Data on patients' characteristics, information regarding the acute-phase COVID-19, as well as presence and duration of COVID-19-related symptoms were obtained. Post COVID-19 condition in this study was defined as a symptom that lasted for at least 2 months, within 3 months of COVID-19 onset. We investigated and compared the prevalence of post COVID-19 condition in both groups after performing propensity score matching.ResultsWe conducted interviews for 53 out of 128 patients with Omicron and obtained 502 responses in the control group. After matching cases with controls, 18 patients from both groups had improved covariate balance of the factors: older adult, female sex, obesity, and vaccination status. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of each post COVID-19 condition between the two groups. The number of patients with at least one post COVID-19 condition in the Omicron and control groups were 1 (5.6%) and 10 (55.6%) (p = 0.003), respectively.ConclusionsThe prevalence of post Omicron COVID-19 conditions was less than that of the other strains. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to investigate the precise epidemiology of post COVID-19 condition of Omicron, and its impact on health-related quality of life and social productivity.
| S-EPMC9365517 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundBacterial coinfections have been widely recognized in adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, bacterial coinfections in hospitalized children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have not been sufficiently researched. This study aimed to determine the clinical presentations and risk factors for bacterial coinfections of pediatric inpatients during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant pandemic.MethodsThis retrospective, observational study included patients younger than 18 years of age who were hospitalized for COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen rapid tests during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant pandemic. Data and outcomes of these patients with or without bacterial coinfections were compared.ResultsDuring this study period, 161 children with confirmed COVID-19 were hospitalized. Twenty-four had bacterial coinfections. The most frequently reported concurrent diagnosis was bacterial enteritis, followed by lower respiratory tract infections. Children with bacterial coinfections had higher white blood cell (WBC) counts and PCR cycle threshold values. The bacterial coinfection group comprised a relatively greater proportion of patients who required high-flow nasal cannula oxygen and remdesivir. The length of stay in the hospital and that in the intensive care unit were longer for children with COVID-19 with bacterial coinfections. Mortality was not observed in either group. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and comorbidity with neurologic illnesses were risk factors for bacterial coinfections with COVID-19.ConclusionThis study provides clinicians with reference points for the detection of COVID-19 in children and its possible association with bacterial infections. Children with COVID-19 and neurologic diseases who present with abdominal pain or diarrhea are at risk of bacterial coinfections. Prolonged fever duration and higher PCR test cycle threshold values, WBC levels, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels may indicate bacterial coinfections in children with COVID-19.
| S-EPMC10151712 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| EMPIAR-11180 | biostudies-other
Project description: Not available
| EMPIAR-11179 | biostudies-other
Project description:There is a wealth of data suggesting that the effectiveness of existing vaccines against the Omicron variant, the most mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant to date, has been substantially reduced if only primary vaccination is administered. Therefore, the effectiveness of booster vaccination against the Omicron variant has become a topic of current interest. We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to collect various pseudovirus neutralization tests or live virus neutralization tests for the Omicron variant, with serum specimens from booster vaccinees. We extracted neutralization titers for the Omicron variant, the original strain, and the other variants before and after booster vaccination, and then manually calculated the fold increase or decrease in neutralization titers for the Omicron variant relative to the other variants, and the fold increase in neutralization titers for the Omicron variant after booster vaccination compared with that before booster vaccination. In the two-dose vaccination regimen, the neutralization titers against the Omicron variant decreased substantially compared to the original strain and other variants. However, after booster vaccination, both homologous and heterologous booster vaccination, the neutralization of serum antibodies against the Omicron variant was significantly improved, although still lower than that of the original strain and other variants. The booster vaccination program based on existing vaccines can produce broad but incomplete immunity against the Omicron variant.
| S-EPMC9897643 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ACE2 on epithelial cells is the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor. Single-cell RNA-sequencing data derived from two COVID-19 cohorts revealed that MAP4K3/GLK-positive epithelial cells were increased in patients. SARS-CoV-2-induced GLK overexpression in epithelial cells correlated with COVID-19 severity and vesicle secretion. GLK overexpression induced the epithelial cell-derived exosomes containing ACE2; the GLK-induced exosomes transported ACE2 proteins to recipient cells, facilitating pseudovirus infection. Consistently, ACE2 proteins were increased in the serum exosomes from another COVID-19 cohort. Remarkably, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein stimulated GLK, and GLK stabilized ACE2 in epithelial cells. Mechanistically, GLK phosphorylated ACE2 at two serine residues (Ser776, Ser783), leading to dissociation of ACE2 from its E3 ligase UBR4. Reduction of UBR4-induced Lys48-linked ubiquitination at three lysine residues (Lys26, Lys112, Lys114) of ACE2 prevented its degradation. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus or live virus infection in humanized ACE2 mice induced GLK and ACE2 protein levels, as well as ACE2-containing exosomes. Collectively, ACE2 stabilization by SARS-CoV-2-induced MAP4K3/GLK may contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19.
| S-SCDT-EMM-2022-15904 | biostudies-other
Project description: Not available
| EMPIAR-11176 | biostudies-other
Project description: Not available
| EMPIAR-11177 | biostudies-other
Project description:ImportanceSome individuals who were infected by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may have been completely unaware of their infectious status while the virus was actively transmissible.ObjectiveTo examine awareness of infectious status among individuals during the recent Omicron variant surge in a diverse and populous urban region of Los Angeles County.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study analyzed the records of adult employees and patients of an academic medical center who were enrolled in a longitudinal COVID-19 serological study in Los Angeles County, California. These participants had 2 or more serial anti-nucleocapsid IgG (IgG-N) antibody measurements at least 1 month apart, with the first occurring after the end of a regional Delta variant surge (September 15, 2021) and a subsequent one occurring after the start of a regional Omicron variant surge (December 15, 2021). Adults with evidence of new SARS-CoV-2 infection occurring during the Omicron variant surge period through May 4, 2022, were included in the present study sample.ExposuresRecent Omicron variant infection as evidenced by SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion.Main outcomes and measuresAwareness of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection was ascertained from review of self-reported health updates, medical records, and COVID-19 testing data.ResultsOf the 210 participants (median [range] age, 51 (23-84) years; 136 women [65%]) with serological evidence of recent Omicron variant infection, 44% (92) demonstrated awareness of any recent Omicron variant infection and 56% (118) reported being unaware of their infectious status. Among those who were unaware, 10% (12 of 118) reported having had any symptoms, which they attributed to a common cold or other non-SARS-CoV-2 infection. In multivariable analyses that accounted for demographic and clinical characteristics, participants who were health care employees of the medical center were more likely than nonemployees to be aware of their recent Omicron variant infection (adjusted odds ratio, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.30-4.65).Conclusions and relevanceResults of this study suggest that more than half of adults with recent Omicron variant infection were unaware of their infectious status and that awareness was higher among health care employees than nonemployees, yet still low overall. Unawareness may be a highly prevalent factor associated with rapid person-to-person transmission within communities.
| S-EPMC9386542 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPresently, the omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) dominates amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but its clinical characteristics with intrinsic severity and organ tropism remain understudied.MethodsWe reported 1,001 mild COVID-19 patients that were infected with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized in China from February to June 2022, including their demographic information, medical/immunization history, clinical symptom, and hematological profile. Patients with one-, two- and three-dose vaccination were compared to assess the vaccine effectiveness. Importantly, liver damage caused by the omicron variant infection was evaluated, in comparison to that caused by the wild-type or the delta variant SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsFor the reported COVID-19 patients infected by the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, their median age was 36.0 [interquartile range (IQR): 26.0-50.0] and 49.7% were female. Hypertension, diabetes, and bronchitis were the leading comorbidities, and asymptomatic patients took up a major portion (61.2%). While most hematological parameters revealed the alleviated pathogenicity, full vaccination or booster shot showed effective protection against clinical severity. Furthermore, liver damages caused by viral infection of the omicron variant were largely attenuated when compared to those by infection of the wild-type or the delta variant SARS-CoV-2.ConclusionsOur results supported that the viremic effect of the omicron variant tended to be modest, while the liver damage caused by this strain became milder than the previous circulating variants.
| S-EPMC9716022 | biostudies-literature