“Omicron” has more than 50 mutations compared to the original strain of coronavirus. This allows him to quickly penetrate into the cells of the body, and also reduces the incubation period, said Evgeny Tonevitsky, adviser to the president of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR), candidate of biological sciences.
In an interview RIA News the expert explained: more than 30 mutations occur in the S-protein of the coronavirus – these are the very “spikes” that cover the virion. More than a dozen mutations fall on the “predator fragment”, through which virus interacts with body cells.
“Some of the mutations increase the speed and efficiency of the virus penetration into the cell, and some of the mutations “hide” the Omicron S-protein from antibodies that were formed after the disease or vaccination,” the scientist noted. “Most likely, more part of the mutations aimed at optimizing the processes of production and assembly of viral copies after penetration into the cell.
This has shortened the incubation period. In the case of Omicron, it leaves three days – versus five days for the original Wuhan virus and four and a half days for Delta.
“There is another feature observed in the omicron, which is its “preference” to multiply in the upper respiratory tract, not going down to the lungs and not causing significant damage there,” Tonevitsky said.
Scientists have already found that “omicron” spreads much faster than “delta”, it is more contagious, but less often leads to a severe course of the disease. According to the latest data, from 85 Russian regions only 22 are not affected by “omicron”.