What is known about “Omikron” – new and dangerous

The new strain of Coronavirus B.1.1.529, revealed in mid-November in the south of Africa, called the Greek letter “Oomikron”.

Application by the British researcher Tom Picoka, a new strain “truly awful mutation profile Spike-protein.”

For the first time, the strain B.1.1.529 was entered in the database on November 11. The first case of infection with a new strain was registered in Botswana, following this, several were revealed to South Africa. After a couple of days, one case of infection was detected in Hong Kong in a man who arrived from South Africa, reports TASS. On Friday, the reveal of the first case of infection with the new strain was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Health of Israel.

According to Tom Picok, in the thickened protein of the strain B.1.1.529 more than 30 mutations were found, and several of them make it difficult to detect the pathogen antibodies.

As the director of the Institute of Genetics of the University College of London, Professor Francois Point, is believed, a new strain could form in a person’s body with a weakened immune system (presumably, a sick HIV / AIDS, which did not receive proper treatment). The chronic course of coronavirus infection, with which immunity could not cope, could allow the virus in the body of the patient for a long time to accumulate a large number of mutations.

According to the initial data from the research carried out in South Africa, it has been established that the new strain has 50 mutations. Of these, 34 are in protein joints of spikes, with the help of which the coronavirus penetrates into human cells.

In connection with the appearance of a new WHO strain reminded the need to vaccinate and comply with sanitation