The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a great threat to global public health. The original wild-type strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has genetically evolved, and several variants of concern (VOC) have emerged. On 26 November 2021, a new variant named Omicron (B.1.1.529) was designated as the fifth VOC, revealing that SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to go beyond the available therapies. The high number of mutations harboured on the spike protein make Omicron highly transmissible, less responsive to several of the currently used drugs, as well as potentially able to escape immune protection elicited by both vaccines and previous infection. We reviewed the latest publication and the most recent available literature on the Omicron variant, enlightening both reasons for concern and high hopes for new therapeutic strategies.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, variants of concern, omicron, B.1.1.529, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Coronavirus disease 2019, Vaccine, coronavirus, pandemic, Mutation, VoC, variant, Infection, drugs, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, omicron, Spike protein, Therapeutic strategies, Omicron variant, B.1.1.529, respiratory, Therapies, immune protection, acute respiratory syndrome, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, global public health, wild-type strain, several variants, less, the spike protein, elicited, several variant, 【제목키워드】 review, clinical, literature, Overturn,