Omicron News and Research

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Study shows that Omicron infections were associated with a substantially reduced risk of progression to severe clinical outcomes relative to Delta infections

Researchers compared COVID-19 severity outcomes among individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants.

13 Jun 2022

Smartwatches used to monitor short-term effects of 4th BNT162b2 booster shot

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, researchers in Israel compared the short-term effects of the first and second booster doses of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA-based) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine BNT162b2.

13 Jun 2022

SARS-CoV-2 BA.4/5 variants escape vaccine and BA.1 infection induced antibodies

In a recent work published in the Cell journal, investigators examined the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron BA.5/4 variants escape from neutralizing antibodies induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and natural infection.

13 Jun 2022

Animal study suggests intranasal COVID vaccine delivery more efficient than intramuscular

In a recent study published in the journal PNAS, researchers demonstrated higher comparative efficacy of the intranasal (IN) route of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine administration versus intramuscular route in mice.

12 Jun 2022

Study investigates SARS-CoV-2 escape from nirmatrelvir

Researchers assessed SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants’ resistance to nirmatrelvir, a protease inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2.

10 Jun 2022

Efficacy of BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages and Deltacron

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* pre-print server, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Pfizer Vaccines Research & Development and BioNTech assessed the neutralization titers of sera from individuals vaccinated with the BNT162b2 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and previously infected with the Omicron sublineage BA.1.

10 Jun 2022

Study reports robust immunity to SARS-CoV-2 including Omicron BA.1 for all three primary vaccines

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, researchers in the United Kingdom investigated the effect of two Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine doses or Oxford/AstraZeneca AZ1222 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and a subsequent BNT162b2 booster dose in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) over six to nine months.

10 Jun 2022

Comparison of the strictness of the Shanghai lockdown policy with that of other countries

Researchers investigated whether strict lockdowns could effectively reduce the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant transmission in Shanghai.

9 Jun 2022

Insights on the T cell epitope landscape for the five main SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Researchers generated an AI resource to characterize the T cell epitope landscape for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

9 Jun 2022

University screening programs gave scientists early insights about omicron’s spread

Omicron was first reported in South Africa on Nov. 24, 2021, and within mere days it was already making the rounds in the United States, spiking SARS-CoV-2 case numbers as it infiltrated every school, restaurant, and family gathering. But when exactly did omicron unseat the delta variant to become dominant? And how quickly did it actually take over?

9 Jun 2022

Research suggests two protein coding genes can predict severe COVID-19

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, researchers demonstrated that two genes, GTPase, IMAP Family Member 7 (GIMAP7), and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2), have the potential to predict severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with ~90% accuracy.

8 Jun 2022

Getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy helps protect young infants

New research offers evidence that getting a second or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the final stages of pregnancy offers protection for infants against SARS-CoV-2 infection (the virus that causes COVID-19 illness).

8 Jun 2022

Where did Omicron's unique spike gene insertion originate?

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, scientists at nference Labs investigated the origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) new variant of concern (VOC) Omicron's unique spike (S) gene insertion ins214EPE.

8 Jun 2022

Researchers plan to commence a clinical trial on new COVID-19 inactivated vaccine

A medical research team from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will start a large-scale clinical trial on a new COVID-19 inactivated vaccine (Omicron variant) developed by China National Biotec Group (Sinopharm).

8 Jun 2022

OpenSAFELY study shows the effectiveness of Pfizer COVID booster doses

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv pre-print server, researchers assessed the effectiveness of the Pfizer–BioNTech BNT162b2 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in the seven million United Kingdom (UK) adults who were eligible to receive booster shots between 16 September and 16 December 2021.

7 Jun 2022

The effect of Omicron breakthrough infection on the magnitude and breadth of serum neutralizing activity and memory B cells among BNT162b2 vaccinees

Researchers evaluated the impact of breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 sublineage on SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern neutralization and memory B lymphocytes formation among BNT162b2 vaccinees.

7 Jun 2022

De novo-designed mini-protein against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers characterized truncated forms of LCB1, a de novo-designed mini-protein, against SARS-CoV-2.

7 Jun 2022

Omicron lineage spike proteins use ACE2 receptors more efficiently

A recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server demonstrated various traits, including the entry pathways and sensitivity to vaccination-elicited antibody responses by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variants.

7 Jun 2022

Study says 460k of first million recorded US COVID deaths caused by variants

In a recent research paper posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, scientists from Yale School of Public Health analyzed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-linked deaths in the United States (US).

7 Jun 2022

The frequency and nature of RNA errors in both SARS-CoV-2 and its vaccine

A recent article demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 mutants and vaccine variability stem from ribonucleic acid polymerase inaccuracy.

6 Jun 2022

Omicron News and Research

Study shows that Omicron infections were associated with a substantially reduced risk of progression to severe clinical outcomes relative to Delta infections

Smartwatches used to monitor short-term effects of 4th BNT162b2 booster shot

SARS-CoV-2 BA.4/5 variants escape vaccine and BA.1 infection induced antibodies

Animal study suggests intranasal COVID vaccine delivery more efficient than intramuscular

Study investigates SARS-CoV-2 escape from nirmatrelvir

Efficacy of BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages and Deltacron

Study reports robust immunity to SARS-CoV-2 including Omicron BA.1 for all three primary vaccines

Comparison of the strictness of the Shanghai lockdown policy with that of other countries

Insights on the T cell epitope landscape for the five main SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

University screening programs gave scientists early insights about omicron’s spread

Research suggests two protein coding genes can predict severe COVID-19

Getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy helps protect young infants

Where did Omicron's unique spike gene insertion originate?

Researchers plan to commence a clinical trial on new COVID-19 inactivated vaccine

OpenSAFELY study shows the effectiveness of Pfizer COVID booster doses

The effect of Omicron breakthrough infection on the magnitude and breadth of serum neutralizing activity and memory B cells among BNT162b2 vaccinees

De novo-designed mini-protein against SARS-CoV-2

Omicron lineage spike proteins use ACE2 receptors more efficiently

Study says 460k of first million recorded US COVID deaths caused by variants

The frequency and nature of RNA errors in both SARS-CoV-2 and its vaccine

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