Somewhere in Novermber21, Omicron, discovered in Botswana and classified as the fifth variant of concern, by the WHO on November 26, 2021, the most mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2, has now circulated in 150 countries/territories around the world.
It was recently divided into three BA.1, BA.2 & BA.3 lineages. All three lineages were first detected at approximately the same time and from the same place in South Africa.
Of these three lineages, it is questionable why only BA.1 dominates much more than the other lineages. This is likely due to differences in mutations in the spike protein required for virus transmission and host cell entry.
BA.1 is the most prolific sublineage, detected in most countries worldwide and currently accounting for 99% of cases in the United States. BA.2 is less prolific, but has overtaken BA.1 in Denmark, Nepal, and the Philippines as the most frequently detected variant, and has a minor presence in India, the United Kingdom, and several other countries. The third, BA.3, is yet to take off globally, only accounting for several hundred cases at the most.
BA.1 & BA.2 are about 30 mutations apart. No specific mutations have been found for BA.3 lineage in Spike protein. Instead, it is a combination of mutations in BA.1 and BA.2 spike proteins.
Interestingly, the omicron sub lineages are sister clades that split from other several months ago, and are not derived from each other. So people infected with one of the lineages would most likey have “robust immunity” against the other ones.
It was recently divided into three BA.1, BA.2 & BA.3 lineages. All three lineages were first detected at approximately the same time and from the same place in South Africa.
Of these three lineages, it is questionable why only BA.1 dominates much more than the other lineages. This is likely due to differences in mutations in the spike protein required for virus transmission and host cell entry.
BA.1 is the most prolific sublineage, detected in most countries worldwide and currently accounting for 99% of cases in the United States. BA.2 is less prolific, but has overtaken BA.1 in Denmark, Nepal, and the Philippines as the most frequently detected variant, and has a minor presence in India, the United Kingdom, and several other countries. The third, BA.3, is yet to take off globally, only accounting for several hundred cases at the most.
BA.1 & BA.2 are about 30 mutations apart. No specific mutations have been found for BA.3 lineage in Spike protein. Instead, it is a combination of mutations in BA.1 and BA.2 spike proteins.
Interestingly, the omicron sub lineages are sister clades that split from other several months ago, and are not derived from each other. So people infected with one of the lineages would most likey have “robust immunity” against the other ones.
