The Omicron Variant and the future of the pandemic
7 Min Read
The World Health Organization classifies the Omicron variant as a “variant of concern” because of its increased transmissibility and the decreased effectiveness of vaccines against it.
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The Beta variant and its main mutations
A year after the global inoculation campaign against the Coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the latest Omicron variant as a Variant of Concern (VOC) because of the decreased effectiveness of vaccines against it and its increased transmissibility.
A number of factors have aided the virus in evolving its Omicron genetic recombination, including the human factor, through the virus’s transmission among people and societies, and an animal factor.
New variants, like Omicron, are a reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is still far from over.
The new variant was first identified in Botswana and South Africa in late November 2021, and was spread at very high speeds around the world over the past few weeks, surpassing all previous variants in transmission speed.
Its transmission speed was 3 times that of the Delta variant, which increased the number of new cases that can push some healthcare systems to the brink of collapse.
Scientifically speaking, vaccines are manufactured in accordance with the virus’s genetic recombination, with the focus being on the virus’s Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD), which is located on its “spike” protein. More specifically, we’re talking about the Receptor-Binding Motif (RBM) that’s responsible for binding the virus to the ACE2 receptor in human cells.
Whenever a virus’s RBM domain undergoes mutations, it produces new variants that can bolster its capabilities to overpower human cells, which would then lead to a need for newer vaccines that can interact with this new genetic recombination that threatens their efficacy.
Scientists have learned of 50 mutations in the Omicron variant that were enough to sound a global alarm and raise concerns, including 36 mutations in the virus’s spike, or its RBD domain. Previous variants have not had more than 12 mutations in that domain, as the following figure shows.
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Variants’ names, the date of their emergence, along with the numbers of their mutations.
The 36 mutations on Omicron’s spike also included those of earlier variants, like Alpha and Beta, but the high rate of new mutations showed how the virus was able to spread so quickly.
It is well-known that new mutations are helping the Coronavirus avoid the antibodies produced by vaccines. Evidence shows, according to the WHO, that individuals that have previously been infected by the virus can also be infected a second time, and much more easily, by the Omicron variant, when compared with other VOCs.
In order to further acquaint ourselves with the new variant, a comparison between it and other VOCs places us before a clearer view of the virus’s evolution and the efficacy of vaccines against it.
Omicron’s spike mutations
The Omicron variant has around 50 mutations that had not been seen together before, including more than 36 mutations in the gene of the spike protein, which the virus uses to bind with the human cell. It also has a number of mutations that already exist in other variants of concern, which are thought to increase the virus’s contagiousness, including D614G, N501Y and K417N.
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Omicron's spike protein
The variants' waves
A number of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 variants have appeared during the pandemic, some of which have spread around the globe, while others quickly disappeared or were replaced by other variants.
Variants of Concern include:
What is a variant?
When an infected human cell replicates new Coronaviruses, it sometimes makes small “copying errors” called mutations. Scientists can track these mutations through a branch of the Coronavirus family tree, called Coronaviridae, all of whom possess the same inherited mutations specific to the variant.
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A Coronavirus with the RNA inside
The Beta variant’s main mutations
The mutations of the spike protein include the following:
- N501Y: which helps the virus bind more strongly to human cells. This mutation can also be seen in the B.1.1.7 and P.1 lineages.
- K417N: Which also helps the virus bind more strongly to human cells.
- E484K: Which might help the virus evade some kinds of antibodies
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The Beta variant and its main mutations
Mutations of Concern
The Mutations that may further the spread of the Coronavirus:
The mutations that can further the spread of the Coronavirus
Mutation
Lineage
Origin
D614G
B.1
First appeared early in 2020 and spread around the world
N501Y
Varied
A mutation specific to a number of lineages, including P.1 (Gamma), B.1.351 (Beta), and B1.1.7 (Alpha) that helps the virus bind more strongly to human cells
E484K-“Eek”
Varied
Seen in many lineages, and helps the virus evade antibodies
K417
Varied
Seen in a number of lineages, including P.1 (Gamma) and B.1.351 (Beta), and may aid the virus bind more strongly to cells
L452R
Varied
Seen in a number of cells, including B.1.617.2 (Delta)
Omicron and vaccines
Lab studies and research in South Africa have worked on the efficacy of vaccines on the Omicron variant. Researchers have found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine only has 33% efficacy against the Omicron variant. The efficacy was found to be at a maximum of 80% for other variants.
In the UK, researchers found that people who received two doses of AstraZeneca have protection whatsoever from an Omicron infection six months post-inoculation. Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech only afforded 34% worth of protection, but a Pfizer booster shock raises the efficacy to 75%.
There is no doubt that the existence of new, previously unknown mutations in the virus will weaken the vaccines, not to mention new health symptoms that patients can suffer from. One example of this is the sweating experience by some Omicron patients, not to mention the death of some patients who had previously received Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots.
During the days and months to come, there will be talk of a fourth booster dose, the goal behind which is to corner the new variant and strengthen the immunity of those that received a third dose to protect them from this variant. Meanwhile, the world is still in a race with the pandemic to protect people from the Delta and Delta+ variants through a third dose.
The true danger of Omicron lies in its high rate of infection, which no previous vaccine can protect against! This new recombination of the spike protein may have us standing before a concerning scene, and a new variant that can pose a true threat for vaccines. Vaccine companies are developing their vaccines, while the virus evolves its genetic recombination as the seasons change and the global number of cases increases.
The Omicron variant is less severe
The Omicron variant is less severe than other variants, and its infection of the lungs is less damaging, but the Coronavirus needs a certain amount of time before it becomes biologically stable and stagnates.
A number of things are still beyond the reach of scientific research with regards to the emergence of these variants. This will still require much research before we can understand it, be that as far as humans are concerned, or animals that can transmit it to humans.
It is clear that the world will remain hostage to booster shots and virus-prevention guidelines, like social distancing, wearing masks, continuously washing one’s hands, and keeping internal spaces ventilated.
This is the war of the months to come. Either control the virus by way of medicine, vaccines and measures, or expect the emergence of a new VOC that can throw everything into a blender and bring humanity back to square one, bringing death upon it like locusts devour crops.
