Researchers have discovered an "invisible version" of the Omiljung strain

Source: Xinhua Net

Beijing, 9 Dec (Xinhua) -- On 9 December, the "Reference News" published a report on the website of the British "Guardian" that "scientists have found an invisible version of the 'invisible version' of the Omiljun strain that is more difficult to trace." The summary of the report is as follows:

Scientists say they have found an "invisible version" of the Omiljung strain, and the commonly used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test cannot distinguish it from other variant strains. Public health officials are currently using PCR testing to quickly understand its global spread.

The "stealth" variant undergoes many of the same mutations as the regular Aomikron strain, but lacks a special genetic variant. This variant is still judged to be coronavirus in all routine tests, and genetic testing can be used to determine that it belongs to the Omicron variant, but it is impossible to quickly find potential cases through routine PCR testing.

The researchers say it is not known whether the new Omilon variant spreads in the same way as the regular Omiljung variety, but the genetic differences in this "stealthy version" are huge, so the performance may also be different.

The "stealth version" was originally discovered in the genome of the new crown virus recently submitted from South Africa, Australia and Canada, and has now identified 7 cases, but the scope of transmission may be wider. The discovery of a new Omiljun strain prompted the researchers to split the B.1.1.529 lineage into the common Omiljun strain BA.1 and the new variant BA.2. François Barlu, director of the Institute of Genetics at University College London, said: "The Omiljun strain has two pedigrees, BA.1 and BA.2. The genetic differences between the two are huge, and the performance may also be different. ”

Scientists use genome-wide analysis to determine which variant of the coronavirus infection is, but PCR testing can sometimes give indications. About half of the PCR instruments in the UK look for three genes for the virus, and two of the previous Alpha variants tested positive for two of them. This is because these two strains have a genetic mutation with a deletion of the spike gene.

Some researchers informally refer to the new variant as "invisible Omikejong" because it does not have spike gene deletions that cannot be detected by PCR testing. A major unknown is how this new variant came about. Although it still belongs to Theomilon, there are huge genetic differences between the two, and if it spreads rapidly, it could potentially be characterized as a new "strain of concern."

One researcher said the emergence of two variant variants of Omi kerong in quick succession ( namely BA.1 and BA.2 ) was "worrying" and said public health surveillance "missing a chunk of the puzzle."