Explained | Two Omicron variants
3 years ago

Explained | Two Omicron variants

The Hindu  

The story so far: The World Health Organization designated Omicron as a variant of concern on November 26, three days after the genome sequence was deposited in a public database by South Africa and Botswana. As a result, the Omicron variant has been split into two sub-lineages, namely BA.1, “for the original globally-distributed lineage”, and BA.2, “for the new outlier lineage”. While 12 mutations have been found exclusively in the spike protein of BA.1, the BA.2 sub-lineage has seven exclusive mutations in the spike protein. Since the BA.1 sub-lineage carries the S-gene dropout mutation, only two of the three targets in the primer will turn positive when the BA.1 sample is tested by RT-PCR. Since BA.2 does not carry the S-gene dropout mutation, all the three target sequences in the RT-PCR primer will test positive.

Seven Protein Spike Omicron Sequences Mutations  sgene  ba2  explained  variants  sublineage  ba1  sequences  seven  protein  spike  mutations  omicron

History of this topic

Staying alert: On the rapidly increasing spread of the JN.1 variant
1 year ago

Staying alert: On the rapidly increasing spread of the JN.1 variant

The Hindu  

The rapidly increasing spread of the JN.1 variant across the globe has led to the prevalence of this variant, a descendent of the BA.2.86 Omicron lineage, reaching over 27%, marking an eight-fold increase in just a month. Compared with the parent lineage BA.2.86, the JN.1 variant carries an additional mutation in the spike protein, which enhances its immune evasion significantly. …

‘Just like Omicron…’: Why are scientists paying more attention to new Covid variant?
1 year, 4 months ago

‘Just like Omicron…’: Why are scientists paying more attention to new Covid variant?

Hindustan Times  

Is the highly-mutated new variant of coronavirus, BA.2.86, a matter of global concern? NEXU Science Communication/File Photo Much like Omicron, BA.2.86, which is causing spike in Covid cases in the US, UK and other countries, carries numerous changes in its spike protein. According to Nature, several scientists believe that the emergence of this new variant won't create a wave like …

Omicron BA.2.75 is alarming! Experts point why tracking new variant is essential
2 years, 6 months ago

Omicron BA.2.75 is alarming! Experts point why tracking new variant is essential

Live Mint  

With detection of a new sub-variant of Omicron - BA.2.75 in several states, experts have pointed out that its emergence is ‘alarming’ as ‘because it may imply a trend to come.’ However, it is still too early to predict whether it will tend to become a dominant strain. And speaking regarding the same, Dr. Shay Fleishon of the Central Virology …

India reports first case of BA.4 sub-variant of Omicron | What you need to know
2 years, 7 months ago

India reports first case of BA.4 sub-variant of Omicron | What you need to know

India Today  

India’s first confirmed case of the BA.4 sub-variant of Omicron has been reported from Hyderabad, according to Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium data. READ | New Covid-19 mutant XE could be most transmissible one yet The BA.4 variant was first detected from a specimen collected on 10 January 2022 in Limpopo, South Africa, and has since been detected in all South …

Why are there so many new Omicron sub-variants, like BA.4 and BA.5? Will I be reinfected? Is the virus mutating faster?
2 years, 8 months ago

Why are there so many new Omicron sub-variants, like BA.4 and BA.5? Will I be reinfected? Is the virus mutating faster?

ABC  

By now, many of us will be familiar with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. We are also increasingly hearing about new Omicron sub-variants with names such as BA.2, BA.4 and now BA.5. But a viral lineage is not labelled a variant until it has accumulated several unique mutations known to enhance the ability of the …

With newer sub-variants, Omicron gives the world much to worry about
2 years, 8 months ago

With newer sub-variants, Omicron gives the world much to worry about

India Today  

If it wasn't difficult already keeping track of the various Covid variants through this pandemic, Omicron seems to have sparked a surge in sub-variants. Now, reports indicate that two new sub-variants—BA.4 and BA.5—of Omicron have emerged which are more transmissible and capable on reinfecting those who have already had Omicron in the recent past. This despite the fact that about …

Omicron Sub-variant Behind Covid Spike in US Might be Cause for Surge in Delhi. All About BA.2.12
2 years, 8 months ago

Omicron Sub-variant Behind Covid Spike in US Might be Cause for Surge in Delhi. All About BA.2.12

News 18  

Omicron sub-lineage BA.2.12 has been detected in a majority of the samples sequenced from Delhi in the first fortnight of April and it could be behind the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the city, sources said Thursday. Although there has been no official confirmation, an Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium source told news agency PTI that Omicron variant derivative BA.2.12.1 …

WHO puts 2 new Omicron sub variants BA.4 and BA.5 on radar: All you need to know
2 years, 8 months ago

WHO puts 2 new Omicron sub variants BA.4 and BA.5 on radar: All you need to know

Firstpost  

Previously, WHO was keeping track of BA.1 and BA.2 which are now dominant in many countries as well as BA.1.1 and BA.3 Health experts are now concerned about two sub variants of the highly transmissible original BA.1 Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The BA.4 and BA.5 variants are already being tracked by the World Health Organization after being discovered in …

What we know about Omicron sub-variant BA.2
2 years, 9 months ago

What we know about Omicron sub-variant BA.2

Business Standard  

First identified in November 2021, the BA.2 sublineage of the Omicron variant has now become dominant worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Initial data suggests that BA.2 appears inherently more transmissible than its highly contagious Omicron siblings BA.1 and BA.1.1 which currently remains the most common The BA.1 was previously the most common Omicron sub-variant reported. One of the …

Covid cases rise in parts of US as Omicron BA.2 variant becomes dominant
2 years, 9 months ago

Covid cases rise in parts of US as Omicron BA.2 variant becomes dominant

India Today  

Accounting for 35 per cent of the Covid cases in the US, the dominant BA.2 variant of Omicron is leading to a surge in infections in parts of the US. She told reporters, "We have seen a small increase in reported Covid-19 cases in New York state and New York City and some increases in people in hospital with Covid-19 …

Here's what we know about the Omicron sub-variant BA.2
2 years, 10 months ago

Here's what we know about the Omicron sub-variant BA.2

ABC  

Just as we begin to enjoy our renewed freedoms, a potentially more infectious coronavirus mutation is emerging. New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard said cases could "more than double" in six weeks due to new Omicron sub-variant BA.2, as the state recorded 16,288 cases on Thursday, its highest number since January. Authorities concerned at rise of Omicron strain Photo …

Covid-19 Cases Subside in India, But Experts Flag Omicron BA.3 Sub-Variant; What You Should Know
2 years, 10 months ago

Covid-19 Cases Subside in India, But Experts Flag Omicron BA.3 Sub-Variant; What You Should Know

News 18  

Covid-19 cases are an all-time low in India, but the threat of more variants and their mutations still continue to loom over the country that has already experienced three waves of the pandemic. The World Health Organisation has already said that it is studying several sub-lineages of the Omicron variants of coronavirus that caused the third wave, including BA.1, BA.1.1, …

Why Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 spreads faster than BA.1
2 years, 10 months ago

Why Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 spreads faster than BA.1

The Hindu  

February 19, 2022 06:00 pm | Updated February 23, 2022 09:00 am IST After quickly spreading to many countries and becoming the dominant strain in circulation within a very short time after Omicron was designated as a variant of concern on November 26, 2021, the Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 is now following the in the footsteps of BA.1 in many countries, …

BA.2 form of Omicron more detectable, no evidence of it being severe: WHO
2 years, 11 months ago

BA.2 form of Omicron more detectable, no evidence of it being severe: WHO

India Today  

World Health Organisation epidemiologist Dr Maria Van Kerkhove on Tuesday said that the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron is expected to be detected more since it is more transmissible than the BA.1 subvariant. In a press briefing, Kerkhove also reiterated that there is no evidence to show that the BA.2 subvariant is more severe than the BA.1. The BA.2 sub-strain, commonly …

Is the Omicron subvariant BA.2 more transmissable?
2 years, 11 months ago

Is the Omicron subvariant BA.2 more transmissable?

Al Jazeera  

Since its emergence in late 2021, Omicron has quickly become the dominant variant of the COVID-19 virus. This is absent in the BA.1 Omicron variant and is known as the “S-gene dropout”; PCR tests will still return a positive result as they will detect the other two DNA sequences they are designed to pick up. Like Delta, the BA.2 Omicron …

Explained | The sub-lineages of the Omicron variant
2 years, 11 months ago

Explained | The sub-lineages of the Omicron variant

The Hindu  

The story so far: In late November 2021, the World Health Organization designated the lineage B.1.1.529 of SARS-CoV-2 as a Variant of Concern and assigned it the Greek alphabet Omicron. While there are many mutations that BA.1 and BA.2 have in common, lineage BA.2 has 28 unique mutations as compared to BA.1 which makes it indicatively different from its sister …

BA.2 Omicron sub-variant found in 57 countries: WHO
2 years, 11 months ago

BA.2 Omicron sub-variant found in 57 countries: WHO

India Today  

A subvariant of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus strain, which some studies indicate could be even more infectious than the original version, has been detected in 57 countries, the WHO said Tuesday. The BA.1 and BA.1.1 -- the first versions identified -- still account for over 96 percent of all the Omicron sequences uploaded to the GISAID global science initiative, …

Fast-spreading, heavily mutated Omicron variant detected in 57 countries, says WHO
2 years, 11 months ago

Fast-spreading, heavily mutated Omicron variant detected in 57 countries, says WHO

Firstpost  

The BA.2 sub-variant is believed to be more infectious than the original Omicron Geneva: A sub-variant of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus strain, which some studies indicate could be even more infectious than the original version, has been detected in 57 countries, the WHO said Tuesday. The fast-spreading and heavily mutated Omicron variant has rapidly become the dominant variant worldwide …

BA.2: Omicron sub-variant detected in 57 countries, says WHO
2 years, 11 months ago

BA.2: Omicron sub-variant detected in 57 countries, says WHO

Al Jazeera  

UN health agency says initial data shows BA.2 is a little more infectious than earlier versions of Omicron. A recently discovered subvariant of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus strain has now been detected in 57 countries, the World Health Organization says. Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist and the WHO’s technical lead on the coronavirus pandemic, told reporters that initial data …

BA.2 Omicron sub-variant gradually replacing BA.1: Experts
2 years, 11 months ago

BA.2 Omicron sub-variant gradually replacing BA.1: Experts

India Today  

The BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron is gradually replacing the BA.1. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, a consortium for genome sequencing in India, in its latest bulletin stated: "BA.2 lineage is a substantial fraction in India and S- gene dropout-based screening is, thus, likely to give high false negatives. WATCH | India's daily Covid-19 tally drops below 3 lakh after 5 …

Omicron ’sub-variant’ BA.2 found in India: What we know so far
2 years, 11 months ago

Omicron ’sub-variant’ BA.2 found in India: What we know so far

Live Mint  

BA.2 lineage, an infectious sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in a substantial fraction in India as the Covid-19 peak is likely to come in the next fortnight. BA.2 lineage is in a substantial fraction in India and S gene dropout based screening is thus likely to give high false negatives," the INSACOG said. It also said that Omicron is …

Indian-origin scientist among UBC researchers unveil world’s first molecular-level analysis of Omicron
2 years, 11 months ago

Indian-origin scientist among UBC researchers unveil world’s first molecular-level analysis of Omicron

The Hindu  

A team of researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist at the prestigious University of British Columbia, has become the first in the world to conduct a molecular-level structural analysis of the Omicron spike protein, which could help accelerate the development of more effective treatments against the variant. The analysis, done at near atomic resolution using a cryo-electron microscope, reveals how the …

Indian-origin scientist among UBC researchers unveil world’s 1st molecular-level analysis of Omicron
2 years, 11 months ago

Indian-origin scientist among UBC researchers unveil world’s 1st molecular-level analysis of Omicron

India TV News  

Highlights Omicron has greater binding affinity than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus The findings show strong antibody evasion and binding with human cells Spike protein helps the virus enter and infect cells A team of researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist at the prestigious University of British Columbia, has become the first in the world to conduct a molecular-level structural analysis of …

UK designates Omicron sub-lineage a variant under investigation
2 years, 11 months ago

UK designates Omicron sub-lineage a variant under investigation

India Today  

The UK Health Security Agency on Friday said it had designated a sub-lineage of the dominant and highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant as a variant under investigation. "It is the nature of viruses to evolve and mutate, so it's to be expected that we will continue to see new variants emerge," Dr Meera Chand, incident director at the UKHSA, said. …

UK designates Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 as ’variant under investigation’
2 years, 11 months ago

UK designates Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 as ’variant under investigation’

Live Mint  

The UK Health Security Agency on Friday said it had designated a sub-lineage of the dominant and highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant as a variant under investigation. "It is the nature of viruses to evolve and mutate, so it's to be expected that we will continue to see new variants emerge," Dr Meera Chand, incident director at the UKHSA, said. …

EXPLAINED: Why Omicron Is A Family Of Four And How Its BA.1 Sublineage Is The One To Watch Out For
2 years, 11 months ago

EXPLAINED: Why Omicron Is A Family Of Four And How Its BA.1 Sublineage Is The One To Watch Out For

News 18  

In the little under two months since the variant that came to be named as Omicron was detected in southern Africa, fresh surges have been reported in multiple countries the world over. While Omicron sparked worries over the number of mutations it had gathered, the latest WHO-designated variant of concern has since been found to have spawned three subtypes — …

Scientifically Speaking | The emergence of Omicron was expected
3 years, 1 month ago

Scientifically Speaking | The emergence of Omicron was expected

Hindustan Times  

Researchers have been saying for months that as long as one part of the world remains unprotected from SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is an opportunity for new variants to emerge. Omicron is a new variant of concern first identified in Botswana and reported to the World Health Organization by South Africa last week. But variants can also emerge over time as …

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