Omicron Variant of COVID-19
Omicron variant is a mutated strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with faster transmissibility and enhanced virulence compared to the original COVID-19 virus.
Omicron variant is a mutated strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with faster transmissibility and enhanced virulence compared to the original COVID-19 virus.
‘Only two could at least partially inhibit BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 and that only one antibody, Bebtelovimab, efficiently blocked infection by all Omicron sub-variants.’
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Furthermore, the study shows that BA.2.12.1 and especially BA.4 and BA.5 are inhibited worse than their predecessors BA.1 and BA.2 by antibodies generated after vaccination or inoculation followed by infection. It is because BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 are immune escape variants. A pass-through infection with "old" Omicron sub-variants confers only limited protection against infection with "new" sub-variants, the researchers explained.
Treatment for Omicron Subvariants
"These results confirm a trend that we have already seen in previous studies: Omicron sub-variants are not appreciably inhibited by most therapeutic antibodies and the few antibodies that inhibit frequently do so in a subvariant-specific fashion. Therefore, it is important to develop new antibodies in order to be prepared for future sub-variants," said Prerna Arora, first author from the German Primate Center.Antibodies from unvaccinated individuals that were infected with BA.1 or BA.2 in spring 2022 neutralized BA.2.12.1 with similar efficiency but were much less potent against BA.4 and BA.5. Therefore, it is likely that a previous BA.1 or BA.2 infection provides little protection against a subsequent infection with BA.4 or BA.5.
FDA Panel Suggest Including Omicron Component in COVID Boosters
Advisers to the U.S Food and Drug Administration suggested for the inclusion of an Omicron component for COVID-19 booster vaccines.
Advisers to the U.S Food and Drug Administration suggested for the inclusion of an Omicron component for COVID-19 booster vaccines.
Similar results were obtained for antibodies induced upon vaccination plus breakthrough infection. Although this so-called hybrid immunity conferred overall higher neutralizing activity against all variants tested, inhibition of BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 was significantly reduced.
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Omicron BA.5 COVID Variant Becomes Dominant in Germany
In Germany, the Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 has become the dominant COVID-19 variant, which accounts for around half of the infections.
In Germany, the Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 has become the dominant COVID-19 variant, which accounts for around half of the infections.
Long COVID Risk from Omicron Lesser Than Delta
The risk of long COVID is lower from Omicron compared to Delta variant. Long COVID as having new or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after disease start.
The risk of long COVID is lower from Omicron compared to Delta variant. Long COVID as having new or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after disease start.
