World Health Organization: What's the matter with the latest variant of the new crown virus?

Recently, a newly discovered variant of the new coronavirus is receiving widespread attention from scientists around the world

A statement from the World Health Organization stated that this variant was first discovered in a sample collected on November 9 this year

The reason Omicron has received attention is that it carries a large number of genetic mutations

▲Gene mutations carried by Omicron (picture source: reference [3])

Specifically, the genetic mutations carried by Omicron include the N501Y mutation that appears in the Alpha and Beta variants, which can enhance the binding ability of the spike protein to the receptor ACE2

In addition, Omicron carries two mutations (P681H and N679K) near the furin cleavage site of the spike protein

▲The mutation carried by Omicron on the spike protein of the new coronavirus (picture source: gisaid.

Since Omicron also carries multiple genetic variants that were not previously present in VOCs, their comprehensive impact still needs to be clarified

For individuals, the World Health Organization recommends a variety of measures to reduce the risk of virus exposure

Reference materials:

[1] Classification of Omicron (B.

[2] Oral Statement on B.

[4] Israel detects its first case of new, highly mutated COVID-19 strain.

[5] Coronavirus latest news: Europe's first case of'nu' Covid strain detected in Belgium.

[6] World Health Organization Tweet.

[7] GISAID.