Invisible omicron. A new strain of coronavirus has learned to cheat PCR tests

So far, this COVID form is classified as “omicron”. But the genetic differences are so significant that researchers are talking about the emergence of a new strain.

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British virologists say they have discovered a new strain of the omicron strain that cannot be distinguished from other strains using a conventional PCR test. This “invisible” species has many mutations in common with the standard “omicron”, but lacks the characteristic genetic changes by which the “omicron” is defined. About it informs The Guardian.

PCR testing helps scientists get a general idea of ​​how the virus is spreading around the planet. All conventional tests define this form of “omicron” simply as a coronavirus, but the fact that it is precisely the “omicron” strain can only be established by the results of genomic analysis. It cannot be distinguished using rapid PCR tests.

Scientists say it is too early to say that the “invisible” species will spread as rapidly as the standard “omicron”. But at the same time, such a variety has significant genetic differences, so the behavior of such a virus virus may differ.

A new form of “omicron” has been identified among the samples of the virus genomes brought from South Africa, Australia and Canada. It is assumed that the “invisible” coronavirus could have spread to other countries.

Because of this discovery, some researchers are already identifying two separate forms of “omicron”: the standard BA.1 and BA.2, which cannot be distinguished from others using a PCR test. They call it “stealth omicron”.

It is still classified as an omicron. At the same time, the genetic differences are so significant that some researchers talk about the emergence of a new strain.

Scientists claim that new strain “omicron” there are many more mutations in the Spike protein (32) compared to previously known variants. It is with the help of this protein that the virus attaches to the cells of the body.

After reports of the emergence of a new COVID variant, the governments of many countries have stepped up quarantine measures and announced that they will not accept flights from South Africa, where the strain was first discovered.

Previously Focus reported that virologists from the United States gave their assessment the degree of danger of the new COVID-variant “Omicron”… According to Anthony Fauci, the chief American virologist and presidential adviser, this strain is not as dangerous compared to Delta.

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