WaNPRC AD for Research speaks to media about new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern
SEATTLE TIMES: University of Washington scientist weighs in on spread of new coronavirus omicron variant
By Elise Takahama, staff reporter
While the world’s newest coronavirus variant of concern, named omicron, hasn’t yet been detected in Washington state or the United States, a UW scientist said Friday that its high number of mutations is particularly concerning.
The new variant — which was first identified in South Africa and has now been seen in travelers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel — has about 50 mutations, about 30 of which are located in the spike protein, a primary protein the virus uses to enter our cells, said Dr. Deborah Fuller, a microbiologist at UW Medicine.
“The concern regarding the number of mutations in that region is that there’s a potential that those mutations could make our vaccines less effective because the antibody response induced against the spike protein might be less effective against those mutants,” she said. Continue reading…
KING TV: 5 things to know about the new omicron variant of COVID-19
The World Health Organization designated a new “variant of concern,” naming it “omicron” after a letter in the Greek alphabet.