SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant: Characteristics and prevention
Xuemei He,
Weiqi Hong,
Xiangyu Pan,
Guangwen Lu,
Xiawei Wei
Affiliations
Xuemei He
Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu China
Weiqi Hong
Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu China
Xiangyu Pan
Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu China
Guangwen Lu
West China Hospital Emergency Department State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu China
Xiawei Wei
Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu China
Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has brought about a great threat to global public health. Recently, a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) variant B.1.1.529 has been reported in South Africa and induced a rapid increase in COVID‐19 cases. On November 24, 2021, B.1.1.529 named Omicron was designated as a variant under monitoring (VUM) by World Health Organization (WHO). Two days later, the Omicron variant was classified as a variant of concern (VOC). This variant harbors a high number of mutations, including 15 mutations in the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) of spike. The Omicron variant also shares several mutations with the previous VOC Alpha, Beta, and Gamma variants, which immediately raised global concerns about viral transmissibility, pathogenicity, and immune evasion. Here we described the discovery and characteristics of the Omicron variant, compared the mutations of the spike in the five VOCs, and further raised possible strategies to prevent and overcome the prevalence of the Omicron variant.
