Can the new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, Omicron, evade the immune system?

Authors

  • Abdullah Zaawari Department of Clinical Pharmacy, KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
  • Saajidah Khan Department of Clinical Pharmacy, KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20220106

Keywords:

Omicron, COVID-19, Immune system

Abstract

It's been less than a week since scientists in Botswana and South Africa warned the world about a rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 variant, known as Omicron now. Researchers and scientists from all over the world are racing to get a clear picture of the threat that the variant poses to the world. However, it may take weeks or even months to completely understand its transmissibility and severity, as well as its ability to evade vaccines and cause reinfections.

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References

World Health Organization. Update on Omicron. 2021. Available at https://www.who.int/news/ item/28-11-2021-update-on-omicron. Accessed 5 December 2021.

World Health Organization. Classification of omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-COV-2 variant of concern. 2021. Available at: https://www.who.int/ news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern. Accessed 5 December 2021.

Callaway E, Ledford H. How bad is omicron? what scientists know so far. 2021. Nature News. Available at https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03614-z#ref-CR2. Accessed 5 December, 2021.

Pulliam RCJ, Van Schalkwyk C, Govender N, Von Gottberg A, Cohen C, Groome MJ et al. Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa. MedRxiv. 2021;1-43.

Schmidt F, Weisblum Y, Rutkowska M, Poston D, DaSilva J, Zhang F et al. High genetic barrier to SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal neutralizing antibody escape. Nature. 2021;600:512-6.

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Published

2022-01-25

How to Cite

Zaawari, A., & Khan, S. (2022). Can the new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, Omicron, evade the immune system?. International Journal of Scientific Reports, 8(2), 69–70. https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20220106

Issue

Section

Letter to the Editor