Know About Omicron coronavirus variant

1. Discovery and prevalence of Omicron coronavirus variant

On November 9, 2021, South Africa detected a B.1.1.529 variant of the new coronavirus from a case sample for the first time. In just two weeks, the mutant strain became the absolute dominant mutant strain in the new crown infection cases in Gauteng Province, South Africa, and its growth was rapid. On November 26th, the WHO defined it as the fifth "variant of concern" (VOC), named the Greek letter Omicron (Omicron) variant. As of November 28, South Africa, Israel, Belgium, Italy, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Hong Kong, China, have monitored the input of the mutant strain. The Omi Keron mutant was first discovered and reported in South Africa, but it does not mean that the virus evolved in South Africa. The place where the mutant was found is not necessarily the place of origin.

2. Possible reasons for the emergence of Omicron coronavirus variant

According to the information currently shared by the coronavirus database GISAID, the number of mutation sites of the coronavirus Omicron coronavirus variant is significantly more than that of all the coronavirus variant that have been circulating in the past two years, especially in the virus spike (Spike) protein mutations. . It is speculated that the reasons for its emergence may be the following three situations: (1) After the immunodeficiency patient is infected with the new coronavirus, he has undergone a long period of evolution in the body to accumulate a large number of mutations, which are transmitted by chance; (2) a certain animal group infection New coronavirus, the virus undergoes adaptive evolution during the spread of animal populations, and the mutation rate is higher than that of humans, and then spills into humans; (3) This mutant strain has continued to circulate for a long time in countries or regions where the mutation monitoring of the new coronavirus genome is lagging. Due to insufficient monitoring capabilities, the intermediate generation viruses of its evolution could not be detected in time.

3. Transmission power of Omicron coronavirus variant

At present, there is no systematic research data on the transmission, pathogenicity and immune escape ability of Omicron coronavirus variant in the world. However, Omicron coronavirus variant also has important amino acid mutation sites in the first four VOC variants Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta spike proteins, including the enhancement of cell receptors. Mutation sites for somatic affinity and virus replication ability. Epidemiological and laboratory surveillance data show that the number of cases of Omicron coronavirus variant in South Africa has increased significantly, and has partially replaced the Delta (Delta) mutants. The transmission capacity needs to be further monitored and studied.

4. The effect of Omicron coronavirus variant on vaccines and antibody drugs

Studies have shown that the presence of K417N, E484A, or N501Y mutations in the S protein of the new coronavirus indicates an enhanced immune escape ability; while the Omicron mutant also has a triple mutation of “K417N+E484A+N501Y”; in addition, the Omicron coronavirus variant also has a triple mutation. There are many other mutations that may reduce the neutralizing activity of some monoclonal antibodies. The superposition of mutations may reduce the protective efficacy of some antibody drugs against Omicron coronavirus variant, and the ability of existing vaccines to escape immunity needs further monitoring and research.

5.Omicron coronavirus variant intensify fears of global outbreak rebound

On November 11, the Omicron coronavirus variant was discovered in Botswana, South Africa, and the strain spread rapidly in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The World Health Organization (WTO) named the strain Omicron . However, on November 25, the South African National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NICD) issued a statement stating that Omicron is unlikely to be worse, and that existing vaccines will continue to provide a high level of protection and effectively prevent hospitalization and death. The body currently only causes mild illness without any obvious symptoms.” From the current information, the Omicron strain is more infectious, but it does not seem to cause severe illness easily. However, whether the existing vaccines, nucleic acid tests, and specific drugs have a good effect on the Omicron strain is still inconclusive. At present, the epidemic control policies of European and American countries have once again been upgraded. Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia and other regions have introduced restrictions on entry into South Africa and its five neighboring countries. Since October, the European epidemic itself has rebounded, and the process of global border opening may be slower than originally expected by the market.

The global capital market is more sensitive to the sudden changes in the epidemic situation, mainly because of concerns that the epidemic will again affect the service industry and the recovery of international exchanges. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield fell by 16 BP on November 26, and the VIX index jumped to 29 from about 18 on the 15th, and market volatility rose sharply.

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