The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is known to have multiple mutations. The study suggests that it is possible that one of the mutations in the Omicron variant was derived from the genetic material of another virus.
Study leader Venky Soundararajan of medical data analysis firm nference said some of the genetic sequences that Omicron had were not found in the earlier COVID-19 variant. However, these sequences are known to be commonly found in other viruses, including the virus that causes the common cold.
Previous studies have found that cells in human lungs can be infected with COVID-19 and other viruses at the same time. Researchers think this coinfection could trigger recombination, a process in which two different viruses in the same host cell interact as they reproduce and produce ‘offspring’ that share some of the genetic material of both.
“We may have missed several generations of this recombination,” Soundararajan said.
Researchers say the Omicron variant may make itself more difficult to be ‘detected’ by the immune system in this way. Further research is needed to confirm it.
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