Researchers discover a second form of the omicron variant that cannot be identified as a mutation in PCR tests. The new Omikron version could behave differently than the one previously known.
London – On November 4th, a scientist in South Africa discovered the novel omicron variant of the coronavirus. Shortly thereafter, the WHO classified the variant as “worrying”. The latest research – such as that of the virologist Sandra Ciesek – indicates that there is a significantly reduced antibody response to the new variant. Now researchers in England have discovered a “stealth” mutation of the omicron variant that is invisible for PCR tests. The scientists suspect that this new form could also behave differently.
Researchers unofficially speak of “stealth” microns
“Nothing is worse than a new variant in a running wave,” said Karl Lauterbach at the end of November about the new Corona variant Omikron. According to initial findings, the variant could undermine vaccination protection and be more easily transferable. Now things could get worse after all, because researchers in England discovered information from the newspaper The Guardian according to a new form of the omicron variant. Some researchers are said to informally refer to the new version as “Stealth Omicron”, in English for example “Stealth Omicron”. Because the “stealth” version of the Omikron variant can be recognized as a coronavirus by means of a PCR test, but it cannot be distinguished from other variants of the coronavirus.
Scientists at the University College London Genetics Institute have so far discovered seven cases of the new omicron shape in samples of coronavirus genomes from South Africa, Australia and Canada. The “stealth” version has many mutations in common with the standard version of Omikron. However, it lacks a special genetic modification that PCR tests could use to identify it as an omicron variant. Instead, a complex genome analysis is required. This is also problematic because PCR tests give faster results. The researchers divided the Omikron variant B.1.1.529 into the lines BA.1 and the newly discovered BA.2.
“Stealth” mutation of the Omicron variant: “Could behave differently”
It is not yet known how the new version of Omikron was created. But it is very different from the original version: “There are two lineages within Omikron, BA.1 and BA.2, which are genetically very different,” said Prof. Francois Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute at University College London opposite to The Guardian. “The two lines can behave differently.” If the newly discovered version spreads as quickly as BA.1, it could also be classified as “worrying” by the World Health Organization. However, it is still too early to know.
According to a scientist, the fact that two variants with a common mutation appear within a short period of time is also worrying. It suggests that “a large piece of the puzzle is missing” in epidemiological surveillance. How exactly the newly discovered Omikron variant affects vaccination protection is still unknown. With regard to the previously known Omikron variant, virologists such as Christian Drosten clearly recommend the booster vaccination.
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