Mutations in the omicron sub-variant of the SARS-CoV-2 strain Kraken that arrived in Russia allow it to more effectively attach to cells and avoid antibodies. This was told socialbites.ca by virologist Pavel Volchkov, head of the genome engineering laboratory at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
“The F486P mutation in Kraken not only allows it to bind better to cells, but also allows it to evade neutralizing antibodies. This is a double success for the virus,” he said.
However, Volchkov added that this does not mean that “omicron” immunity will not work at all. Kraken will most likely cause little damage, and there will be no outbreaks like the one caused by the micron during its initial entry into Russia.
“I used to be more afraid of the options that are developing right now in China right now. The theory of large numbers tells us that from there we can wait for the arrival of a dangerous new strain of coronavirus. It may or may not have a “kraken” at its core. Sooner or later we will have a variant of SARS-CoV-2 that is far from the currently persistent strains,” Volchkov concluded.
For more information on what is known about the new suboption and who may be at risk, see material “socialbites.ca”.