The spike gene is a major determinant for the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 phenotype
T. Barut, N. J. Halwe, A. Taddeo, J. N. Kelly, J. Schön, N. Ebert, L. Ulrich, C. Devisme, S. Steiner, B. S. Trueeb, B. Hoffmann, I. B. Veiga, N. F. G. Leborgne, E. A. Moreira, A. Breithaupt, , V. Thiel
This study shows the spike gene determines replication, pathogenicity, and immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 compared to Delta in cell cultures and animal models.
bioRxiv · Apr 28, 2022Microbiology