Evolution of SARS-CoV-2: BA.4/BA.5 Variants Continues to Pose New Challenges

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 14; no. 12; p. 2610
• Main Authors: Quadir, Neha, Singh, Jasdeep, Alam, Anwar, Malik, Asrar Ahmad, Rahman, Syed Asad, Hira, Subhash, Ehtesham, Nasreen Zafar, Sundar, Durai, Hasnain, Seyed Ehtesham
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; BA.4/BA.5; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 infection; COVID-19 vaccines; Disease transmission; Evolution; F486V; health services; Health surveillance; Hospitalization; Humans; immunity; Immunity, Innate; Infections; L452R; Microbial mutation; Molecular evolution; monitoring; Monoclonal antibodies; mortality; Mutation; Peptides; Portugal; Proteins; Public health; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics; Spike protein; Vaccines; Virus research; Viruses; India; Portugal; BA.4/BA.5; F486V; SARS-CoV-2; L452R

The acquisition of a high number of mutations, notably, the gain of two mutations L452R and F486V in RBD, and the ability to evade vaccine/natural infection-induced immunity suggests that Omicron is continuing to use “immune-escape potential” as an evolutionary space to maintain a selection advantag...