Omicron variant update | Mutations in SARS-CoV 2 | Scientific illustration
MUTATIONS THAT MAKES OMICRON VARIANT OF SARS-CoV 2 MORE INFECTIOUS & TRANSMISSIBLE!
The SARS-CoV 2 spike protein [RED COLOUR] bound here with Human ACE-2 receptor [BLUE COLOUR].
The spike protein of Omicron variant is characterized by at least 30 amino acid substitutions, three small deletions, and one small insertion. Notably, 15 of the 30 amino acid substitutions are in the receptor binding domain (RBD) [SHOWN HERE AS YELLOW COLOUR SPOTS]. There are also a number of changes and deletions in other genomic regions.
Key Amino Acid Substitutions in Spike Protein due to Mutations:
RBD substitutions : G339D, S371L, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, G446S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, G496S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H
Other region: A67V, del69-70, T95I, del142-144, Y145D, del211, L212I, ins214EPET547K, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, N856K, Q954H, N969K, L981F
On November 24, 2021, South Africa reported the identification of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.529, to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO &The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control classified this variant as a VOC due to concerns “regarding immune escape and potentially increased transmissibility compared to the Delta variant.
My first attempt in scientific illustration… Thanks for @cgfigures for the valuable suggestion of using @proteinimaging and thanks to team at @proteinimaging for making it easy for me to illustrate and educate all with this incredible tool! Special thanks to @paco.enguita for introducing me to the world of scientific illustration with his awesome rendering of biomolecules!
Sources:
CDC
PDB entry: 7KNI (Cryo-EM structure of Triple ACE2-bound SARS-CoV-2 Trimer Spike at pH 5.5)