Omicron (English name: omicron, number: B.1.1.529), 2019 novel coronavirus variant . was first detected in South Africa on November 9, 2021. The maximum incubation period is 8 days.
On November 26, 2021, World Health Organization defined it as the fifth "mutant strain of concern", named it the Greek letter Omicron (Omicron) mutant strain . On November 29, WHO said that the global overall risk assessment of the new coronavirus Omicron mutation strain is " very high ", and may widely spread in the world. On December 9, " Reference News " published on the British " Guardian " website reported that "scientists discover the "invisible version" Omicron strain that is more difficult to track". On January 4, 2022, the WHO said that before the Christmas and New Year holidays, 128 countries and regions had reported the discovery of the Omickron variant ].
reported on March 10, 2022 that virus infected by infected people reported in Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Shaanxi and other places all have the Omickron mutation strain. In addition, the epidemic in Shanghai has spilled out to 71 cities in 21 provinces and 21 cities across the country, including Guangxi.
On March 21, 2022, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said that an independent laboratory study showed that its antibody cocktail therapy to prevent and treat the new coronavirus can effectively fight the Omickron variant (including the highly contagious BA.2 subtype variant). The data show that this therapy, called Evusheld, significantly reduced the number of viruses in all Omickron variants detected in mouse lung samples. The treatment is under review in Europe and has been approved in the United States. On May 12, 2022, according to KK China News Agency , North Korea has seen cases of infection with the new coronavirus mutant virus Omickron. In December, among the newly infected people with the new coronavirus, Wuhu City, it was discovered for the first time that the evolutionary branch of the Omickron variant BF.7 was reported, and was imported from other provinces.
found that through
Omicron virus (B.1.1.529)
It is understood that this mutant strain did not first appear in South Africa, but South Africa noticed this unusual phenomenon. Previously, a group infection incident of a student cluster was discovered in the capital of South Africa, Pretoria . The epidemic quickly developed from infection with several people to infection with thousands, and spread to other cities in South Africa. To this end, South Africa quickly started research. It is reported that the first sample collected by this variant strain was on November 9. After conducting research in South Africa, the situation was reported to the WHO on November 24.
On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization sounded the alarm to the world after holding an emergency meeting: a worrying new variant of the new coronavirus is spreading around the world, and countries urgently need to be vigilant and take countermeasures.
According to a notice issued by the WHO on the afternoon of the 26th, this variant, known as B.1.1.529, has been identified by the organization as the highest level of "mutant strain worthy of concern" (VOC) and named Omicron. It has only been two days since the mutant strain was discovered.
South African scientists who first reported this new virus mutant strain said that the Omickron mutant virus is driving a new wave of outbreaks in South Africa.
On November 30, 2021, the Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong announced the successful isolation of the new coronavirus mutant virus Omickron strain from clinical specimens.
On November 29, 2021, according to Russian Satellite News Agency and Arab News Network, the WHO said that the overall risk assessment of the new coronavirus Omickron mutation in the world is "very high" and may be widely spread in the world. The Omickron of the new coronavirus has more mutations than the delta strain, which may trigger greater transmission risk and may have stronger vaccine resistance, which may lead to an increase in the risk of people with secondary infection with in in the new coronavirus.
delta strain and Omickron strain spike protein mutation [27]
Mutual carrier mutation
2021 News on December 20, 2021, Chumakov, director of the laboratory of the Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, said that after his research, "Omickron" has three amino acid fragments with the seasonal characteristics of the coronavirus , which can only be artificially caused. In Chumakov's view, this may be because the British concentrated all mutations into one strain, which allowed "Omickron" to combine almost all viral mutations.
On July 19, 2022, according to the Russian Consumer Rights Protection and Public Welfare Supervision Bureau, 5 cases of new subtype BA.2.75 infection were found in Moscow, Russia, and the patients' symptoms were relatively mild.
Mainland China
On the evening of November 29, 2021, Nankai University Huang Senzhong's team found through big data modeling analysis that Omickron's infectiousness increased by about 37.5% compared with the infectiousness of the new crown mutant plant Delta. On the same day, the answer about Omickron released by the official WeChat account of the National Health Commission also mentioned that the Omickron mutation strain also has the first four VOC mutation strains, Alpha (alpha), Beta (beta), Gamma (gamma) and Delta (delta) spike proteins, including mutation sites that enhance cell receptor affinity and virus replication ability. epidemiological and laboratory monitoring data show that the number of cases infected with Omickron mutant in South Africa has surged and partially replaced the Delta mutant, and its infectiousness needs further monitoring and research.
On November 30, 2021, Xu Wenbo, director of the Institute of Viral Disease Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said: The mutation sites of the Omickron mutation do not affect the sensitivity and specificity of the mainstream nucleic acid detection reagent in mainland China - the mutation region of the Omickron mutation is mainly concentrated in the high-mutation region of the S protein, and is not located in the primer and probe targets of the nucleic acid detection kit published in the eighth edition of the "New Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control Plan" (ORF1ab gene and N gene ) region .
Xu Wenbo, director of the Institute of Viral Disease Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced that the Omickron mutation strain also has some important amino acid mutation sites of the first four "needed attention" mutations, including sites with enhanced cell receptor affinity, viral replication ability and immune escape ability.
At the same time, epidemiological and laboratory monitoring data showed that in South Africa, where the Omickron variant was first discovered, the number of cases of this variant surged in a short period of time, partially replacing the delta variant.
study shows that if the S protein of the new coronavirus appears in K417N, E484A or N501Y mutations, it indicates that the immune escape ability is enhanced.
"The Omickron variant strain has the above triple mutation at the same time." Experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that in addition, there are many other mutations that may reduce the neutralization activity of some monoclonal antibodies. "The superposition of mutations may reduce the protective effect of some antibody drugs on the Omickron mutation strain."
On the evening of December 9, 2021, the Institute of Disease Control and Prevention of the Central Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of the Omickron strain was obtained from the University of Hong Kong .
triggers symptoms
On November 26, 2021, Angelique Coetzee, president of the South African Medical Association, introduced the symptoms of infection with the new strain of the new coronavirus, "Omicron", and said that the variant currently only causes "mild diseases". "This is a mild disease, with symptoms including muscle soreness, fatigue, and a mild cough .
A South African doctor who found Omickron revealed that people infected with the new variant had "unusual symptoms" and were slightly different from those infected with the Delta strain.
reported that Angelik Cooche, chairman of the South African Medical Association, told the BBC on the 28th that one of the first patients found infected with the mutant virus Omickron strain was a man in his 30s. He told Cooche that he had been "extremely tired" for several days and also mentioned physical pain and "a little headache."
Coche added that the patient showed no typical symptoms of infection with delta or any previously found strains, such as cough, loss of taste or smell; and that he was accompanied by a "scratchy throat" rather than pain.
Cooche also said her colleagues reported similar cases of Omickron infection, and patients experienced what she called "extremely mild symptoms." She also said that to her knowledge, no patients infected with Omickron were admitted to the hospital.
drug development
Fosun Diagnosis
On November 28, 2021, Fosun Diagnosis issued a document stating that the detection scheme used by the new crown nucleic acid detection reagents it provides can cover the detection of the new crown virus mutant strain, minimizing missed tests and re-examinations.
In a statement of validity for the detection of the new coronavirus mutant strain, Fosun Diagnosis mentioned that it has completed the primer probe in the new coronavirus nucleic acid detection reagent and the latest international variants (including but not limited to Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), Lambda (C.37), Kappa (B.1.617.1), Eta (B.1525), Lota (B.1526), Mu (B.1.621), Zeta (P.2), Omicron (B.1.1.529), etc.), the results confirmed that there will be no off-target or missed detection, which can ensure the accuracy and sensitivity of the nucleic acid detection reagent of the new coronavirus.
December 14, 2021, US consumer news and business channel (CNBC), Pfizer said on Tuesday that the final analysis still showed that its new crown oral drug Paxlovid has 89% effect in preventing hospitalization and death of high-risk patients. [215]
Johnson & Johnson : It is testing the effectiveness of vaccine on the new variant
According to Fox Business Network on November 26 local time, Johnson & Johnson responded in an email that the company is testing the effectiveness of its new crown vaccine on the B.1.1.529 variant.
JSJ's new crown vaccine (Jassen) is an adenovirus vector vaccine. A spokesperson wrote: "We are closely monitoring the emerging omicron variant strain and are already testing the effectiveness of its vaccine for the first time in southern Africa."
reported on December 15, 2021 that South African virologist Penny Moore said that the neutrality of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine "cannot detect" the Omickron variant strain in laboratory trials.
Johnson & Johnson Research: Mixed and enhanced injection is expected to effectively resist Omicron. Johnson & Johnson conducted a study on 65 subjects who received two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and then received one dose of Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson booster injection, and released a research report. Four weeks after the booster injection, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine increased the neutralizing antibody titer by 40 times, while the Pfizer booster injection was 16 times. Data show that mixed vaccination "has the potential to cause strong cell-mediated immunity to , which is important for immune memory and preventing severe lower respiratory tract diseases."
A South African study showed that Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine booster can reduce the hospitalization rate of patients infected with the Omickron strain by 84%. A major researcher said that this experimental result proves that even if the new mutation of the new coronavirus occurs, the protective effect of existing vaccines still exists.
Moderna : It is testing the ability to neutralize the mutant strain of the current vaccine dose
According to Pengpai News , on November 26, 2021 local time, Moderna (Moderna) announced a solution strategy for the Omicron variant and stated that the company is rapidly working to test the ability to neutralize the mutant strain of the current vaccine dose , and is expected to provide data in the next few weeks.
Modner's 50 micrograms of MRNA-1273 have been granted emergency use authorization in the United States for adults aged 18 and above, and obtained emergency use authorization for enhanced needles on November 19 local time. Moderna said that if the currently authorized 50 microgram mRNA-1273 booster dose is proven to be insufficient to enhance immunity against the omicron variant, it will be responded from three levels in the future: First, Moderna has tested the safety of higher doses of mRNA-1273 (100 microgram) enhancer and immunogenicity in healthy adults. 2. Two multivalent enhancement vaccine candidates, including mRNA-1273.211 and mRNA-1273.213, have been studied, which aim to predict mutations, such as those occurring in Omicron variants. Third, the candidate product mRNA-1273.529 for Omicron variant will be rapidly promoted. [41]
Novavax: Research on the new crown vaccine against the variant
Novavax said that the company has begun to study vaccines against the B.1.1.529 new crown variant strain and will prepare the test and production of the vaccine in the next few weeks. A spokesperson for the company said: "The preliminary work will take several weeks."
The company's vaccine is a recombinant protein subunit vaccine. Novavax also submitted an emergency use list (EUL) to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Beijing Yiqiao Shenzhou: Successfully developed the recombinant protein of the "Omicron" variant strain
On December 2, 2021, Beijing Yiqiao Shenzhou announced that it had completed a series of work from molecular construction to cell culture, protein purification, quality assurance in just 6 days. On December 1, Omicron variant strain RBD protein reagent was successfully produced and provided to relevant institutions for research as soon as possible. Paul Burton, chief medical officer of
Moderna (MRNA.US)
Moderna (MRNA.US), said he believes that the omicron novel coronavirus heterozygous strain may be immune to the current vaccine. If so, a redeveloped vaccine may be available in the market earlier in 2022. [144]
Sinopharm Group China Biologics
Sinopharm Group China Biologics has laid out research and development work for the Omickron variant strain on all three technical routes. Among them, the Beijing Institute of Biology and the Wuhan Institute of Biology will conduct cross-neutralization experiments on the Delta strain, Beta strain and the listed inactivated vaccine ; the China Institute of Biology of Sinopharm Group has launched the design of the gene map and is building the cell line ; Zhongsheng Funuogen, affiliated to Sinopharm Group, has also launched the development of the omickun vaccine. Sinopharm Group China Biologics will prepare all vaccines for mutant strains as soon as possible.
targets the Omickron mutation strain, and the three vaccine technology routes of China Biotechnology, inactivated, recombinant protein and mRNA, are all planning research and development at the same time. "No matter how the virus mutates, our research and development will not stop."
Research team of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong University)
On December 13, 2021, the research team of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong University) announced that the isolated Omickron strain of the new coronavirus mutant virus has been sent to China Center for Disease Control and Prevention and two vaccine manufacturers - Sinovac Biotechnology and Sinopharm Group for research and development of vaccines against Omickron. The research team is the first team in Asia to isolate the Omickron strain.
Oxford University and AstraZeneca
December 22, 2021 News, Oxford University and AstraZeneca have begun to work on the production of Omickron-targeted COVID-19 vaccines.
China's joint research team: inactivated vaccine continues to be effective against the Omickron mutant strain
In April 2022, a joint research team from China conducted a retrospective study based on the clinical data of 430 Omickron positive infections in Tianjin, scientifically verified that three doses of inactivated vaccine can significantly reduce the severity of disease in Omickron infected people, effectively shorten the course of the disease, and proved the sustained effectiveness of the inactivated vaccine against the Omickron mutant strain through real virus neutralization experiments.This is the first reported scientific evaluation of the protection of the inactivated vaccine in the real world on the novel coronavirus caused by the Omickron variant strain, and the results of real virus neutralization experiments are of great value for the development of neutralizing antibody drugs.
This joint research team is composed of researchers from the First Central Hospital Affiliated to Nankai University, Changping National Laboratory, Peking University Frontier Innovation Center for Biomedical Sciences, Nankai University Institute of Immunology, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases, , Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Department of Immunology, Beijing You'an Hospital, , and the National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Naval Medical University.
On May 1, 2022, the clinical study of the inactivated new coronavirus vaccine of the Omickron variant strain developed by Sinopharm Group's Beijing Institute of Biological Products was officially launched in Hangzhou, and the first dose was completed on the same day. This is the world's first inactivated coronavirus vaccine to enter clinical trials against the Omickron variant.
On May 9, 2022, the sequential clinical trial of the inactivated new coronavirus vaccine of Sinopharm Group's Beijing Institute of Biological Products was launched in Hunan Province. for the first time has carried out sequential clinical research on the Aozhu COVID-19 vaccine among people who have been vaccinated with the new crown vaccine.
May 18, 2022, the first clinical study of the anti-new coronavirus small molecule oral drug VV116 was released in the Omickron infected subjects in China. VV116 is an oral small molecule anti-coronavirus drug developed by Chinese scientists. The relevant results were published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections on May 18. Professor Shen Yinzhong of Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center is the first author of the article, and Professor Zhang Wenhong of and Professor Fan Xiaohong of Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center are the co-corresponding authors of the article. Research data suggest that the nucleic acid conversion time of Omickron-infected patients who used VV116 within 5 days of positive nucleic acid test was 8.56 days, which was less than the 11.13 days in the control group. Among symptomatic patients, administering VV116 within the medication time range of this study (2-10 days for the first nucleic acid positive), can shorten the patient's nucleic acid conversion time. In terms of drug safety, no serious adverse reactions were observed in patients who used VV116. The sample size included in the institute was limited, and none of the subjects developed severe or critical illness.
On June 25, 2022 local time, Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech SE issued a statement saying that data from the two new crown vaccines developed by the two companies against Omickron in the Phase 2/3 trials proved that both triggered a "high immune response."
On September 12, 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan approved the manufacture and sale of new vaccines against the new crown Omickron strain. This time, the products developed by Pfizer and Moderna were approved. It contains two components targeting the original strain of the new crown and Omickron "BA.1", which are called bivalent vaccines. The Pfizer vaccination targets are over 12 years old, and Moderna is over 18 years old.
issued a statement on September 12, 2022 saying that the European Medicines Agency's Human Drugs Committee (CHMP) recommended that the Pfizer/BioNTech bivalent new crown vaccine be approved. This vaccine targets Omickron BA.4 and BA.5 variants and is suitable for people aged 12 and above.
On October 31, 2022, a special group meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan approved the new vaccine of Moderna's Omickron strain subtype "BA.5", with the vaccination interval set to at least 3 months from the last vaccination.
On November 9, 2022, the UK Drugs and Health Products Administration approved the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech. The vaccine targets both the original strain and the Omickron BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
Prevention recommendations
Prevent the Omickron variant strain of the new coronavirus. These practices and measures are effective:
First, good personal hygiene habits are still effective. It includes paying attention to hand hygiene, wearing masks scientifically, ventilating frequently, and gathering less (especially avoiding poor ventilation or crowded places), always paying attention to maintaining a "one-meter line" social distance in public places, and using tissues or elbow sleeves to cover them when coughing or sneezing, etc. These good habits are still an effective way to block the spread of the virus, and are also suitable for the Omickron mutant strain.
Second, the vaccine is still effective in a timely manner. Data from home and abroad show that vaccination with the new coronavirus vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the new coronavirus pneumonia, especially for reducing severe illness and death.
Third, it is still effective to improve one's immunity. This is a powerful weapon to deal with various viruses including the new coronavirus. Pay attention to a reasonable diet, moderate exercise, and adequate sleep in daily life, especially not staying up late. Sleeping after more than 12 o'clock will reduce your immunity.
Fourth, the current epidemic prevention and control strategies and measures are still in effect. The whole society should increase its vigilance against the new coronavirus, especially the Omickron mutant strain, continue to adhere to the principle of "preventing imports from outside and rebound from inside", and jointly build a solid social defense line for epidemic prevention and control. Key departments and key units should strengthen the investigation and control of risky personnel.
