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| Research progress on the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 |
| GUO Yifei1, ZHANG Jiming1，2，3 |
| 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; 2. Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/MOH), Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; 3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Jing’An Branch of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University，Shanghai 200040, China |
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Abstract On November 26, 2021, World Health Organization (WHO) designated the B．1.1.529 variant firstly reported in South Africa as a variant of concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2, named Omicron. There are about 50 mutations in this variant, and at least 30 mutations in the spike protein region alone, which far exceeds the number of mutation sites in other endemic strains. The analysis on mutated sites and preliminary experiments confirmed that the variant may be highly contagious and associated with immune escape. How Omicron variant will affect the pandemic has aroused wide public concern in various countries. This review focused on the basic characteristics, detection, pathogenicity, infectivity, and immune escape of Omicron variant.
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Received: 13 January 2022
Published: 25 February 2022
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Corresponding Authors:
ZHANG Jiming
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2022, Vol. 17 
