Omicron Genetic and Clinical Peculiarities That May Overturn SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Literature Review |
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| Authors: | Giorgio Tiecco Samuele Storti Melania Degli Antoni Emanuele Foc Francesco Castelli Eugenia Quiros-Roldan |
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| Affiliation: | Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia and University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.T.); (S.S.); (M.D.A.); (E.F.); (F.C.) |
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| Abstract: | The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a great threat to global public health. The original wild-type strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has genetically evolved, and several variants of concern (VOC) have emerged. On 26 November 2021, a new variant named Omicron (B.1.1.529) was designated as the fifth VOC, revealing that SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to go beyond the available therapies. The high number of mutations harboured on the spike protein make Omicron highly transmissible, less responsive to several of the currently used drugs, as well as potentially able to escape immune protection elicited by both vaccines and previous infection. We reviewed the latest publication and the most recent available literature on the Omicron variant, enlightening both reasons for concern and high hopes for new therapeutic strategies. |
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| Keywords: | Omicron B 1 1 529 variants of concern SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 |
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