This study characterizes Omicron-BA.1 and its recombinant spike gene mutants compared to VOC Delta in primary human cells and animal models. Omicron-BA.1 showed enhanced early replication in nasal epithelial cells but limited replication in bronchial cells. Delta dominated over Omicron-BA.1 in hamsters and ferrets. In hACE2-knock-in mice, Delta and its spike clone outperformed Omicron-BA.1 and its clone. However, in naïve K18-hACE2 mice, Omicron-BA.1 showed reduced replication and pathogenicity. The Omicron-BA.1 spike clone was less controlled by mRNA vaccination, highlighting immune evasion as a factor in its dominance.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Oct 07, 2022
Authors
Marco P. Alves, Charles Gérard Benaraï, Martin Beer, Volker Thiel
Tags
Omicron-BA.1
Delta variant
replication dynamics
immune evasion
animal models
human cells
spike gene mutants
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