The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) has exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic. End of November 2021, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant namely the omicron (B.1.1.529) emerged. Since this omicron variant is heavily mutated in the spike protein, WHO classified this variant as the 5th variant of concern (VoC). We previously demonstrated that the ancestral strain and the other SARS-CoV-2 VoCs replicate efficiently in and cause a COVID19-like pathology in Syrian hamsters. We here wanted to explore the infectivity of the omicron variant in comparison to the ancestral D614G strain in the hamster model. Strikingly, in hamsters that had been infected with the omicron variant, a 3 log 10 lower viral RNA load was detected in the lungs as compared to animals infected with D614G and no infectious virus was detectable in this organ. Moreover, histopathological examination of the lungs from omicron-infected hamsters revealed no signs of peri-bronchial inflammation or bronchopneumonia. Highlights • End of Nov 2021, WHO classified the omicron variant as a variant of concern. • The omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant does not replicate in Syrian hamsters lungs. • There are no signs of COVID19-like pathology in lungs of omicron-infected hamsters.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, hamsters, omicron, SARS-CoV-2 VoC, Infectivity, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Inflammation, pathology, COVID-19 pandemic, variant, SARS-CoV-2 variant, lung, Lungs, D614G, Omicron variant, WHO, B.1.1.529, hamster, viral RNA load, Infectious virus, bronchopneumonia, organ, new SARS-CoV-2, log, detectable, exacerbated, replicate, the spike protein, demonstrated, mutated, histopathological, End, the lungs a, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.529, hamster, infect,