Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants BA.1 to BA.5: Implications for immune escape and transmission.

ABSTRACT: The first dominant SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 harbours 35 mutations in its Spike protein from the original SARS-CoV-2 variant that emerged late 2019. Soon after its discovery, BA.1 rapidly emerged to become the dominant variant worldwide and has since evolved into several variants. Omicron is of major public health concern owing to its high infectivity and antibody evasion. This review article examines the theories that have been proposed on the evolution of Omicron including zoonotic spillage, infection in immunocompromised individuals and cryptic spread in the community without being diagnosed. Added to the complexity of Omicron's evolution are the multiple reports of recombination events occurring between co-circulating variants of Omicron with Delta and other variants such as XE.

SUBMITTER: Shrestha LB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9349777 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature