https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...10.13.512134v1
Quote:
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The recently identified, globally predominant SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.1) is highly transmissible, even in fully vaccinated individuals, and causes attenuated disease compared with other major viral variants recognized to date. The Omicron spike (S) protein, with an unusually large number of mutations, is considered the major driver of these phenotypes. We generated chimeric recombinant SARS-CoV-2 encoding the S gene of Omicron in the backbone of an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 isolate and compared this virus with the naturally circulating Omicron variant. The Omicron S-bearing virus robustly escapes vaccine-induced humoral immunity, mainly due to mutations in the receptor binding motif (RBM), yet unlike naturally occurring Omicron, efficiently replicates in cell lines and primary-like distal lung cells. In K18-hACE2 mice, while Omicron causes mild, non-fatal infection, the Omicron S-carrying virus inflicts severe disease with a mortality rate of 80%. This indicates that while the vaccine escape of Omicron is defined by mutations in S, major determinants of viral pathogenicity reside outside of S.
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Translation:
-Omicron is wayyy more contagious than Wuhan strain, we know Omicron Spike protein is a major factor
-We used gain-of-function to splice Omicron S gene into Wuhan strain.
-Our newly invented virus completely bypasses any vaccine immunity
-Out newly invented virus increases mortality rate by 80%
-Turns out it's not just virus Spike that determines deadliness of virus
Yay science! What fascinating findings. Here's hoping this one doesn't escape the lab too.