The research found that Omicron is less efficient at attacking the lungs than other variants

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Researchers at the Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Diseases have found that a mutation in the virus’s spike protein can reduce its ability to replicate in the lungs and cause severe disease.

“These observations highlight that Omicron has acquired immune evading properties while impairing properties associated with reproduction and pathogenesis,” the researchers said.

Study leader Ravi Gupta, a Sage member and professor of clinical microbiology at Cambridge, said challenges remain despite the positive results.

He tweeted: “What does all this mean? Lung cell infection can efficiently correlate with the severity of lung disease. Associated or fused cells are often seen in ingested respiratory tissues after severe illness. Delta was very good in both, unlike Omicron. There More work needed.

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“In summary, this work indicates that Omicron appears to be becoming more immune-elastic, but properties associated with disease progression *might* be somewhat weak. However, significant growth of Omicron presents a major public health challenge.”

This comes after a study conducted by researchers in Hong Kong discovered that Omicron replicates 70 times faster than Delta in the human airways.

The experts also found that Omicron replicated less in human lung tissue than in the original strain of the virus, which they said may indicate a lower disease severity.

The study’s lead professor cautioned that “the overall threat from the Omicron variant is likely to be very significant.”

It’s important to note that “the severity of disease in humans is determined not only by virus replication but also by the host’s immune response to infection,” said Dr. Michael Chan Chi-wai.

It is also noted that by infecting so many people, a highly contagious virus may cause more serious illness and death even though the virus itself may be less pathogenic. .

“Therefore, combined with our recent studies showing that the Omicron variant can partially escape immunity from previous vaccines and infections, the overall threat from the Omicron variant is likely to be very significant.”

A statement published by HKUMed said the researchers succeeded in isolating the Omicron variant and used the removed lung tissue to treat the lung to investigate the new mutation.

They compared the Omicron to both the original strain and the Delta.

The statement said they found that Omicron “replicates faster than the original Sars-CoV-2 virus and its delta variant in human bronchi.”

After 24 hours of infection, the Omicron variant “replicates about 70 times higher than the Delta variant and the original Sars-CoV-2 virus,” they said.

They added: “In contrast, the Omicron variant replicates less efficiently (more than 10 times less) in human lung tissue than the original Sars-CoV-2 virus, which may indicate a lower disease severity.”

The university said the research is currently under review for publication.

In response to the university’s release of the study, Dr David Strain, Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Exeter, said it was unclear how the results of this laboratory work would compare to what is seen in patients.

He said: “The 70-fold increase in frequency is worrisome which explains the increased transmission of the virus.

However, there is a lack of clarity as to how this 10-fold decrease in lung infection in this in vitro study is translated into patients.

“At first glance it looks good, but if a virus is able to replicate 70 times faster, but infect 10 times slower, that still leads to a sevenfold increased risk of disease (70 times for the virus, even with a 10 times reduction) In being able to enter cells, the virus will confuse the cells.)

Dr Julian Tang, associate professor emeritus and clinical virologist in respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, said the research teams at the University of Hong Kong “have significant experience investigating emerging respiratory viruses”.

He added: “This new finding supports what we are beginning to see epidemiologically – with a rapid spread but milder disease – predominantly mediated by upper rather than lower respiratory infections.”

It is in line with the way a new virus tends to evolve, he said, “killing less, but infecting more” and that it remained to be seen whether the pattern the researchers discovered “repeated across populations globally.”

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