Bayesian Molecular Dating Analyses Combined with Mutational Profiling Suggest an Independent Origin and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 Sub-Lineages

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 14; no. 12; p. 2764
• Main Authors: Kumar, Naveen, Kaushik, Rahul, Singh, Ashutosh, Uversky, Vladimir N, Zhang, Kam Y J, Sahu, Upasana, Bhatia, Sandeep, Sanyal, Aniket
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.12.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Algorithms; Bayes Theorem; Bayesian analysis; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Datasets; Dating; Disease transmission; Divergence; Epidemiology; Evolution; Evolution & development; evolutionary rate; Genomes; Humans; Mutation; mutational profiling; Pandemics; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Public health; Regression analysis; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron; selection pressure; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Spike protein; tMRCA; India; South Africa; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron; tMRCA; mutational profiling; selection pressure; evolutionary rate

The ongoing evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in the recent emergence of a highly divergent variant of concern (VOC) defined as Omicron or B.1.1.529. This VOC is of particular concern because it has the potential to evade most therapeutic antibodi...