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Omicron coronavirus variant has more than double the mutations of Delta, Italian lab image shows
- Image created by researchers in Rome shows 43 spike protein mutations for the newest variant, compared to 18 for Delta
- While heavy mutation is confirmed, transmissibility and severity of illness caused remain to be seen
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Italian researchers have published the first image of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, confirming expectations that the new strain was a highly mutated version of the original coronavirus.
However, while its identification earlier this week has sparked worldwide alarm, the transmissibility of Omicron and the severity of illness it can cause have yet to be determined.
The image of the variant, published on Saturday, was derived from research carried out at the Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome. The study was coordinated by Professor Carlo Federico Perno and supervised by Professor Claudia Alteri from the State University of Milan.
The image displays the structure of the Omicron spike protein beside that of the Delta variant, revealing a far higher rate of mutation. The spike protein is the part of the virus crucial for it to enter human cells, and the part that a vaccine targets.
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Scientists around the world have been scrambling for new information about the Omicron strain, first detected by scientists in South Africa and identified as a variant “of concern” on Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Omicron cases have since been found in different parts of the world, including Botswana, Israel, Hong Kong and Belgium, sparking global concern and widespread travel curbs.
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