Omicron News and Research

RSS

Mucosal vaccine shows lasting defense against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in primate study

In this groundbreaking study, researchers developed a mucosal adenoviral-vector vaccine, ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S, which demonstrated sustained and robust immunity against a challenging Omicron variant in nonhuman primates, indicating a promising direction for durable COVID-19 protection strategies. Unlike traditional intramuscular vaccines, this mucosal vaccine elicited a comprehensive immune response, potentially paving the way for more effective and long-lasting COVID-19 vaccines.

9 Nov 2023

Immune imprinting: The crux of waning COVID-19 booster effectiveness against new variants

The study in Nature Microbiology reviews the concept of immune imprinting and its influence on antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2, highlighting challenges for COVID-19 booster vaccination efficacy against emerging variants. Researchers suggest that understanding immune imprinting is crucial for developing vaccines that elicit broad and lasting immune protection.

7 Nov 2023

Omicron variant BA.2.86 spreads faster, but current antivirals hold the line

Researchers discover the BA.2.86 Omicron lineage with higher transmission potential than current dominant strains, yet show that existing antivirals remain effective. Despite its higher infectivity, BA.2.86 exhibits lower pathogenicity in hamsters, indicating decreased replication capacity may lead to less severe infections.

7 Nov 2023

New nasal vaccine for COVID-19 shows promise in animal studies

A team of University of Maryland researchers developed a nasal spray vaccine that delivers the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein into cells of the airway in mice and hamsters, triggering an immune response that significantly reduced infection and spread of COVID-19.

6 Nov 2023

Hospitalization and mortality risks from COVID-19 by age during SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants’ predominance

Age-stratified hospitalization and mortality risks from incident SARS-CoV-2 infections.

1 Nov 2023

COVID-19’s long reach: Some physical symptoms can persist up to two years post-diagnosis

Researchers investigated the prevalence rate of physical-type symptoms by the severity of acute COVID-19 beyond two years of diagnosis.

31 Oct 2023

New omicron sublineages surge, but Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster retains effectiveness

The efficacy of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine BNT162b2 BA.4/5.

30 Oct 2023

Older adults still at highest risk of COVID-19 despite high vaccination rates

About 80% of residents in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 by July 2023 and were at low risk for severe outcomes, but almost half of the oldest adults remained uninfected and were at highest risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, according to a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.230721.

30 Oct 2023

AI-nanopore platform can detect SARS-CoV-2 variants with high accuracy

A rapid, accurate way of testing for COVID-19 infection would be a big step in overcoming the virus' hold over our society.

27 Oct 2023

New AI-nanopore platform could revolutionize COVID-19 testing

A rapid, accurate way of testing for COVID-19 infection would be a big step in overcoming the virus' hold over our society.

26 Oct 2023

Omicron's edge: boosters pressure SARS-CoV-2 to adapt and evolve

The effects of vaccine booster doses on the adaptive evolution of the virus.

25 Oct 2023

BA.2.86 Omicron sub-variant shows high receptor affinity but moderate neutralization resistance

Study investigates the receptor affinity and antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.86 variant, revealing that it does not show higher resistance to neutralization by human sera than other recent variants. Despite its high number of mutations and receptor affinity, the variant is slightly more sensitive to neutralization than the EG.5.1 variant, warranting continued surveillance.

24 Oct 2023

Kids with Omicron non-infectious after three days, vaccination status irrelevant

Study found that the median duration of infectivity for the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in children is three days, regardless of vaccination status. The findings suggest that current 5-day isolation policies are supported, but vaccination or booster status need not be considered in return-to-school guidelines.

24 Oct 2023

Community immunity: Steering the evolutionary course of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in Germany have developed a comprehensive fitness model that forecasts the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 by integrating genetic, epidemiological, and immunological data. The study emphasizes the role of population immunity in shaping viral mutations and provides valuable insights into the emergence of new variants.

24 Oct 2023

Omicron News and Research

Mucosal vaccine shows lasting defense against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in primate study

Immune imprinting: The crux of waning COVID-19 booster effectiveness against new variants

Omicron variant BA.2.86 spreads faster, but current antivirals hold the line

New nasal vaccine for COVID-19 shows promise in animal studies

Hospitalization and mortality risks from COVID-19 by age during SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants’ predominance

COVID-19’s long reach: Some physical symptoms can persist up to two years post-diagnosis

New omicron sublineages surge, but Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster retains effectiveness

Older adults still at highest risk of COVID-19 despite high vaccination rates

AI-nanopore platform can detect SARS-CoV-2 variants with high accuracy

New AI-nanopore platform could revolutionize COVID-19 testing

Omicron's edge: boosters pressure SARS-CoV-2 to adapt and evolve

BA.2.86 Omicron sub-variant shows high receptor affinity but moderate neutralization resistance

Kids with Omicron non-infectious after three days, vaccination status irrelevant

Community immunity: Steering the evolutionary course of SARS-CoV-2

Viral rebound common in lung transplant recipients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for COVID-19

Research suggests shorter isolation periods for children with COVID-19

Study reveals impact of hybrid immunity and booster vaccination on antibody waning

Intranasal vaccination: A potent one-time solution for comprehensive COVID-19 immunity

Assessing COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against long COVID

Is it time to rethink COVID-19 boosters? New study dives into variant-specific vaccines

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News