Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 isolates in rodents

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 612; no. 7940; pp. 540 - 545
• Main Authors: Uraki, Ryuta, Halfmann, Peter J., Iida, Shun, Yamayoshi, Seiya, Furusawa, Yuri, Kiso, Maki, Ito, Mutsumi, Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Kiyoko, Mine, Sohtaro, Kuroda, Makoto, Maemura, Tadashi, Sakai-Tagawa, Yuko, Ueki, Hiroshi, Li, Rong, Liu, Yanan, Larson, Deanna, Fukushi, Shuetsu, Watanabe, Shinji, Maeda, Ken, Pekosz, Andrew, Kandeil, Ahmed, Webby, Richard J., Wang, Zhongde, Imai, Masaki, Suzuki, Tadaki, Kawaoka, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 15.12.2022; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/326/596/2555; 631/326/596/4130; 64/110; 82/51; ACE2; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Animal models; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Clinical isolates; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - virology; Cricetinae; Fitness; Genetic Fitness - genetics; Genetic Fitness - physiology; Hamsters; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Mesocricetus - virology; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; multidisciplinary; Mutation; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Rodentia - virology; Rodents; SARS-CoV-2 - classification; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - pathogenicity; SARS-CoV-2 - physiology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike protein; Transgenic mice; Virulence; Viruses; United States > US; Japan

The BA.2 sublineage of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has become dominant in most countries around the world; however, the prevalence of BA.4 and BA.5 is increasing rapidly in several regions. BA.2 is less pathogenic in animal models than previously circulating variants of concern 1 – 4 . Compared w...