98%
921
2 minutes
20
Since its emergence, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron clade has shown a marked degree of variability and different clinical presentation compared with previous clades. Here we demonstrate that at least four Omicron lineages circulated in children since December 2021, and studied until November 2022: BA.1 (33.6%), BA.2 (40.6%), BA.5 (23.7%) and BQ.1 (2.1%). At least 70% of infections concerned children under 1 year, most of them being infected with BA.2 lineages (n = 201, 75.6%). Looking at SARS-CoV-2 genetic variability, 69 SNPs were found to be significantly associated in pairs, (phi < - 0.3 or > 0.3 and p-value < 0.001). 16 SNPs were involved in 4 distinct clusters (bootstrap > 0.75). One of these clusters (A23040G, A27259C, T23617G, T23620G) was also positively associated with moderate/severe COVID-19 presentation (AOR [95% CI] 2.49 [1.26-4.89] p-value: 0.008) together with comorbidities (AOR [95% CI] 2.67 [1.36-5.24] p-value: 0.004). Overall, these results highlight the extensive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron circulation in children, mostly aged < 1 year, and provide insights on viral diversification even considering low-abundant SNPs, finally suggesting the potential contribution of viral diversification in affecting disease severity.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10912656 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55599-0 | DOI Listing |
J Infect Public Health
August 2025
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Background: Long COVID, or Post-COVID Conditions (PCC), refers to new and persisting sequelae occurring in the months following an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although previous studies have reported estimates of PCC incidence, few have examined trends during the Omicron variant period or have included geographically distinct regions for the same time periods.
Methods: Track PCC is a surveillance network, leveraging electronic health records and public health data to monitor incidence over time across five diverse geographic sites in the U.
Vaccine
September 2025
Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.
Despite the therapeutic potential of the primary vaccine series, a lack of confidence in the COVID-19 booster vaccine poses a threat to public health and undermines its coverage at the national, regional, and global levels. This study aimed to understand COVID-19 booster vaccine confidence (CBVC) among Bangladeshi adults aged 18-49 and the potential predictors of CBVC. In line with STROBE guidelines, a face-to-face cross-sectional survey was conducted from June 15 to August 31, 2023 during the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnal Chem
September 2025
Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, Regensburg 93053, Germany.
The conjugation of proteins to the outer membranes of liposomes is a standard procedure used in bioanalytical and drug delivery approaches. Herein, we describe the development of a liposome-based surrogate assay for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Taking into consideration differences in amino acid sequences within the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 Spike proteins derived from five selected variants of concern (VoC), we studied the impact of coupling chemistries on physicochemical properties and antigenicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Virol
September 2025
Division of Medical Virology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Unlabelled: Ongoing viral evolution in immunocompromised individuals with persistent infection may facilitate the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and emergence of variants of concern (VOC). This study was conducted in the Western Cape Province of South Africa where the HIV prevalence is around 8%, with limited information on the frequency of persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection, the pattern of evolution in these individuals, and if these variants contribute to the diversity of circulating viruses. This study investigated 75 individuals with two or more SARS-CoV-2 diagnoses at least one month apart.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
September 2025
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.
Background: The World Health Organization recommends at-home management of mild COVID-19. While our preliminary evaluation provided evidence for saline nasal irrigation (SNI) and gargling in COVID-19, an update and risk-benefit assessment for self-care in Omicron infection is warranted, from treatment and preparedness perspectives, as new SARS-CoV-2 variants continuously emerge, while symptoms overlap with those of common colds and other upper respiratory tract infections.
Methods: Systematic literature searches for preclinical and clinical studies involving Omicron infection and saline, bias assessment, and review of outcomes (benefits, risks).