Omicron News and Research

RSS

Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron afforded by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters compared to two-dose primary series

The current paper compares the effectiveness of two vs. three doses of these vaccines against Omicron compared to Delta.

25 Jan 2022

Scientists develop a model to rapidly identify vaccine breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 variants

In a new study, scientists have recently developed a computational model to predict the antigenicity and immune escape ability of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.

25 Jan 2022

In Portugal risk of hospitalization from Omicron is 75% lower than Delta

Researchers from Portugal reported a 75% risk reduction in hospitalizations for individuals infected with Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to the Delta variant and a shorter length of stay and lower mortality if hospitalization does occur. Their paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while undergoing peer review.

24 Jan 2022

Danish study shows lower risk of hospitalization in Omicron cases compared to Delta

In a recent study posted to the Preprints with The Lancet* server, a large team of researchers estimated the comparative risk of hospitalization after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron and Delta variants of concern (VOCs) in Denmark.

24 Jan 2022

Current vaccines prompt the body to make effective, long-lasting T cells against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have found that four COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, J&J/Janssen, and Novavax) prompt the body to make effective, long-lasting T cells against SARS-CoV-2.

24 Jan 2022

New, low-cost COVID-19 test could make high-performance testing more accessible

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new test for COVID-19 that combines the speed of over-the-counter antigen tests with the accuracy of PCR tests that are processed in medical labs and hospitals.

24 Jan 2022

Lower risk of vaccine-breakthrough infections for mRNA-1273 recipients

Recently, a team of researchers examined breakthrough infections, hospitalizations, and mortality rates in double-dose messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine recipients in a research letter published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).

24 Jan 2022

Experts issue new CPR guidance addressing highly contagious variants of SARS-CoV-2

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Heart Association and collaborating organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Respiratory Care, the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists and the American Society of Anesthesiologists, continue to provide interim guidance to address the latest scientific research related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, particularly the Delta and Omicron variants.

24 Jan 2022

COVID-19 testing measures simplified for travelers arriving in the UK from 11 February

All testing measures for eligible fully vaccinated travelers arriving in the UK will be removed from 4am on 11 February, as the government goes one step further to reopen the travel sector.

24 Jan 2022

Study explains why Omicron infections are less likely to cause severe disease

A new study by researchers from the University of Kent and the Goethe University Frankfurt shows that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is less effective than Delta at blocking a cellular defense mechanism against viruses, the so-called “interferon response”.

24 Jan 2022

Investigating Omicron’s fitness and replicative potential compared with earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants using organoids

This study examined the shedding, fitness, and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs using human airway and alveolar organoids.

24 Jan 2022

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination on Delta variant resurgence in Israel

In a new study, researchers constructed a discrete-time age-of-infection age-stratified transmission model to accurately determine the individual to population-level data on SARS-CoV-2 Delta surge dynamics in Israel

24 Jan 2022

Impact of clustered mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike function

In a new study, researchers explored the characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant of concern (VOC) Omicron BA.1 sublineage clustered mutations.

24 Jan 2022

Study finds stable T-Cell response against Omicron after mRNA booster vaccination

A new study measured T cell activity in vaccinated individuals and found a third vaccine provided substantial T-cell immunity against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

24 Jan 2022

Third dose of mRNA vaccine found to be effective in protecting against Omicron-related ED visits

A nationwide study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that mRNA booster shots (either Pfizer or Moderna) are 82 percent effective in protecting against COVID-19 Omicron variant-associated emergency department (ED) visits and 90 percent effective in protecting against COVID-19 Omicron variant-related hospitalizations.

24 Jan 2022

Researchers are in the race to beat Omicron

David Veesler and his lab members aren't getting much sleep these days. In the final weeks of 2021, he and his team worked around the clock to post four coronavirus papers on the preprint server bioRxiv.

24 Jan 2022

Study offers a cost-benefit analysis of lockdowns implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The U.S. pandemic lockdown in 2020 caused a $2.3 trillion economic downturn and split the nation politically, and now some European nations are locking down again as Omicron surges through the global population.

24 Jan 2022

Study shows how SARS-CoV-2 Omicron evades our immune response and remains infective

A recent study published in the journal Science brings a detailed chemical and molecular perspective on the improved evasion of antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the retention of strong interactions with the receptor as two principal factors underneath the notorious transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

23 Jan 2022

Nirmatrelvir, Molnupiravir, and Remdesivir hold-up against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in vitro

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers test three severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antivirals authorized for emergency use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their in vitro potency against several SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the currently dominant Omicron train.

23 Jan 2022

Novel SARS-CoV-2 mutations reported in chronic HIV patients

A new study describes the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in three immunocompromised patients.

23 Jan 2022

Omicron News and Research

Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron afforded by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters compared to two-dose primary series

Scientists develop a model to rapidly identify vaccine breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 variants

In Portugal risk of hospitalization from Omicron is 75% lower than Delta

Danish study shows lower risk of hospitalization in Omicron cases compared to Delta

Current vaccines prompt the body to make effective, long-lasting T cells against SARS-CoV-2 variants

New, low-cost COVID-19 test could make high-performance testing more accessible

Lower risk of vaccine-breakthrough infections for mRNA-1273 recipients

Experts issue new CPR guidance addressing highly contagious variants of SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 testing measures simplified for travelers arriving in the UK from 11 February

Study explains why Omicron infections are less likely to cause severe disease

Investigating Omicron’s fitness and replicative potential compared with earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants using organoids

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination on Delta variant resurgence in Israel

Impact of clustered mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike function

Study finds stable T-Cell response against Omicron after mRNA booster vaccination

Third dose of mRNA vaccine found to be effective in protecting against Omicron-related ED visits

Researchers are in the race to beat Omicron

Study offers a cost-benefit analysis of lockdowns implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Study shows how SARS-CoV-2 Omicron evades our immune response and remains infective

Nirmatrelvir, Molnupiravir, and Remdesivir hold-up against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in vitro

Novel SARS-CoV-2 mutations reported in chronic HIV patients

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Latest News