Replication of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant in ex vivo cultures of the human upper and lower respiratory tract.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Omicron BA.2 sublineage has replaced BA.1 worldwide and has comparable levels of immune evasion to BA.1. These observations suggest that the increased transmissibility of BA.2 cannot be explained by the antibody evasion.

Methods

Here, we characterized the replication competence and respiratory tissue tropism of three Omicron variants (BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2), and compared these with the wild-type virus and Delta variant, in human nasal, bronchial and lung tissues cultured ex vivo.

Findings

BA.2 replicated more efficiently in nasal and bronchial tissues at 33°C than wild-type, Delta and BA.1. Both BA.2 and BA.1 had higher replication competence than wild-type and Delta viruses in bronchial tissues at 37°C. BA.1, BA.1.1 and BA.2 replicated at a lower level in

SUBMITTER: Hui KPY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9387351 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature