Could the New BA.2.75 Sub-Variant Cause the Emergence of a Global Epidemic of COVID-19? A Scoping Review

References

• WHO director-general’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-The-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Mule S, Singh A, Greish K, Sahebkar A, Kesharwani P, Shukla R. Drug repurposing strategies and key challenges for COVID-19 management. J Drug Target. 2022;30(4):413–429. doi:10.1080/1061186X.2021.2013852
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sender R, Bar-On YM, Gleizer S, et al. The total number and mass of SARS-CoV-2 virions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(25). doi:10.1073/pnas.2024815118
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Khairnar P, Soni M, Handa M, Riadi Y, Kesharwani P, Shukla R. Recent highlights on Omicron as a new SARS-COVID-19 variant: evolution, genetic mutation, and future perspectives. J Drug Target. 2022;30(6):603–613. doi:10.1080/1061186X.2022.2056187
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhou B, Thao TTN, Hoffmann D, et al. SARS-CoV-2 spike D614G change enhances replication and transmission. Nature. 2021;592(7852):122–127. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03361-1
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 and novel therapeutics against coronavirus (COVID-19). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34033342/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• O’Toole Á, Pybus OG, Abram ME, Kelly EJ, Rambaut A. Pango lineage designation and assignment using SARS-CoV-2 spike gene nucleotide sequences. BMC Genomics. 2022;23(1):1–13. doi:10.1186/s12864-022-08358-2
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern as of 15 July 2022. Available from: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/variants-concern. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Malik JA, Ahmed S, Mir A, et al. The SARS-CoV-2 mutations versus vaccine effectiveness: new opportunities to new challenges. J Infect Public Health. 2022;15(2):228. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2021.12.014
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• CGTN. Could Omicron BA.2.75 sub-variant lead to a new global COVID-19 wave?; 2022. Available from: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-07-05/Could-Omicron-BA-2-75-sub-variant-lead-to-A-new-global-COVID-19-wave--1bqoo4JLfwI/index.html. Accessed October 10, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• World Health Organization. WHO coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard. Available from: https://covid19.who.int/measures/. Accessed October 20, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• India Today. WHO monitoring new Omicron sub-variant BA.2.75 detected in countries like India; 2022. Available from: https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/who-monitoring-new-omicron-sub-variant-ba-2-75-detected-india-covid-cases-1972801-2022-07-07. Accessed October 20, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. WHO coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard with vaccination data. Available from: https://covid19.who.int/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Ahmad Malik J, Ahmed S, Shinde M, et al. The impact of COVID-19 on comorbidities: a review of recent updates for combating it. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022;29(5):3586–3599. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.02.006
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Desingu PA, Nagarajan K, Dhama K. Emergence of Omicron third lineage BA.3 and its importance. J Med Virol. 2022;94(5):1808. doi:10.1002/jmv.27601
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mohapatra RK, Kandi V, Sarangi AK, et al. The recently emerged BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of Omicron and their global health concerns amid the ongoing wave of COVID-19 pandemic – correspondence. Int J Surg. 2022;103:106698. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2022.106698
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Farooqi T, Malik JA, Mulla AH, et al. An overview of SARS-COV-2 epidemiology, mutant variants, vaccines, and management strategies. J Infect Public Health. 2021;14(10):1299. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2021.08.014
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Liu C, Ginn HM, Dejnirattisai W, et al. Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 by vaccine and convalescent serum. Cell. 2021;184(16):4220–4236.e13. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.020
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Pulliam JRC, Govender N, Gottberg A, et al. Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa. medRxiv. 2021;376:eabn4947.
   Google Scholar
• Planas D, Veyer D, Baidaliuk A, et al. Reduced sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta to antibody neutralization. Nature. 2021;596(7871):276–280. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03777-9
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cele S, Gazy I, Jackson L, et al. Escape of SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 from neutralization by convalescent plasma. Nature. 2021;593(7857):142–146. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03471-w
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• CDC. Omicron variant: what you need to know. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Taylor CA, Whitaker M, Anglin O, et al. COVID-19–associated hospitalizations among adults during SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron variant predominance, by race/ethnicity and vaccination status — COVID-NET, 14 states. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(12):466–473. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7112e2
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Callaway E. What Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 variants mean for the pandemic. Nature. 2022;606(7916):848–849. doi:10.1038/d41586-022-01730-y
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bazargan M, Elahi R, Esmaeilzadeh A. OMICRON: virology, immunopathogenesis, and laboratory diagnosis. J Gene Med. 2022;24(7). doi:10.1002/jgm.3435
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yamasoba D, Kimura I, Kosugi Y, et al. Neutralization sensitivity of Omicron BA.2.75 to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. bioRxiv. 2022;2022. doi:10.1101/2022.07.14.500041
   Google Scholar
• BA.2.75 — new Covid variant detected in India a mystery, but could ‘have immune-escape property. Available from: https://theprint.in/health/ba-2-75-new-covid-variant-detected-in-india-A-mystery-but-could-have-immune-escape-property/1020578/. Accessed July 23, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CDC Fortune. “Centaurus”, new “stealth Omicron” COVID subvariant BA.2.75, found in the U.S. Available from: https://fortune.com/2022/07/07/what-is-centaurus-ba275-new-stealth-omicron-covid-subvariant-cdc/. Accessed July 23, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Tableau Public. Tracking BA.2.75 lineage over time. Available from: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/raj.rajnarayanan/viz/TrackingBA_2_75LineageOverTime/BA_2_75. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Bansal K, Kumar S. Mutational cascade of SARS-CoV-2 leading to evolution and emergence of omicron variant. Virus Res. 2022;315:198765. doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198765
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yin W, Xu Y, Xu P, et al. Structures of the Omicron Spike trimer with ACE2 and an anti-Omicron antibody. Science. 2022;375(6584):1048–1053. doi:10.1126/science.abn8863
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Araf Y, Akter F, Zheng C, et al. Omicron variant of SARS‐CoV‐2: genomics, transmissibility, and responses to current COVID‐19 vaccines. J Med Virol. 2022;94(5):1825. doi:10.1002/jmv.27588
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Martins M, Do Nascimento GM, Nooruzzaman M, et al. The Omicron variant BA.1.1 presents a lower pathogenicity than B.1 D614G and Delta variants in a feline model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. bioRxiv. 2022. doi:10.1101/2022.06.15.496220
   Google Scholar
• Kawaoka Y, Uraki R, Kiso M, et al. Characterization and antiviral susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron/BA.2. Res Sq. 2022. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1375091/v1
   Google Scholar
• Tegally H, Moir M, Everatt J, et al. Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages BA.4 and BA.5 in South Africa. Nat Med. 2022;28(9):1785–1790. doi:10.1038/s41591-022-01911-2
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Statement on Omicron sublineage BA.2. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/22-02-2022-statement-on-omicron-sublineage-ba.2. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Worldometer. India COVID coronavirus statistics. Available from: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/india/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Hachmann NP, Miller J, Ventura JD, et al. Neutralization Escape by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(1):86–88. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2206576
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kumar S, Karuppanan K, Subramaniam G. Omicron (BA.1) and sub-variants (BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3) of SARS-CoV-2 spike infectivity and pathogenicity: a comparative sequence and structural-based computational assessment. J Med Virol. 2022;94(10):4780–4791. doi:10.1002/jmv.27927
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Shaheen N, Mohamed A, Soliman Y, et al. Could the new BA.2.75 sub-variant lead to another COVID-19 wave in the world? – correspondence. Int J Surg. 2022;105:106861. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2022.106861
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jung C, Kmiec D, Koepke L, et al. Omicron: what makes the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern so concerning? J Virol. 2022;96(6). doi:10.1128/jvi.02077-21
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Guo Y, Han J, Zhang Y, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: epidemiological features, biological characteristics, and clinical significance. Front Immunol. 2022;13:2010.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Evans JP, Zeng C, Qu P, et al. Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages BA.1, BA.1.1, and BA.2. Cell Host Microbe. 2022;30(8):1093–1102.e3. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2022.04.014
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Tegally H, Moir M, Everatt J, et al. Continued Emergence and Evolution of Omicron in South Africa: new BA.4 and BA.5 lineages. medRxiv. 2022. doi:10.1101/2022.05.01.22274406
   Google Scholar
• The Wire Science. Could the new BA.2.75 sub-variant lead to another COVID-19 wave in India? Available from: https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/ba-2-75-sub-variant-new-covid-19-wave/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• What we know so far about Omicron’s BA.2.75 sub-variant, spreading 18% more. Available from: https://www.dnaindia.com/health/report-what-we-know-so-far-about-omicron-ba-2-75-sub-variant-spreading-18-percent-more-covid-19-delta-2966072. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• COVID-19: what is BA.2.75 sub-variant and how bad is it? Available from: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/covid-19-what-is-ba275-sub-variant-and-how-bad-is-it. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Team TIE. New omicron sub-variant BA.2.75 sets alarm bells ringing; here’s all we know about its severity, transmissibility & more; 2022. Available from: https://weather.com/en-IN/india/coronavirus/news/2022-07-07-new-omicron-sub-variant-ba275-transmissibility-severity-faqs. Accessed October 20, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Ars Technica. Sliding to mild? Nope—omicron BA.2 caused worse COVID symptoms than BA.1. Available from: https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/05/sliding-to-mild-nope-omicron-ba-2-caused-worse-covid-symptoms-than-ba-1/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• NBC Chicago. What are the symptoms of the omicron subvariant BA.2? Here’s what experts say so far. Available from: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/what-are-The-symptoms-of-The-omicron-subvariant-ba-2-heres-what-experts-say-so-far/2792800/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Chen LL, Abdullah SMU, Chan WM, et al. Contribution of low population immunity to the severe Omicron BA.2 outbreak in Hong Kong. Nat Commun. 2022;13(1):1–10. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27699-2
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• ABC7 San Francisco. COVID-19: doctors explain 5 reasons why omicron’s BA.5 will be the “worst” subvariant yet. Available from: https://abc7news.com/omicron-ba5-subvariant-transmissibility-latest-covid-variant-symptoms/12044541/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Tahmasebi S, Khosh E, Esmaeilzadeh A. The outlook for diagnostic purposes of the 2019‐novel coronavirus disease. J Cell Physiol. 2020;235(12):9211. doi:10.1002/jcp.29804
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Maisa A, Spaccaferri G, Fournier L, et al. First cases of Omicron in France are exhibiting mild symptoms. Infect Dis Now. 2022;52(3):160–164. doi:10.1016/j.idnow.2022.02.003
   Google Scholar
• Fortune. New Omicron subvariant BA 2.75, dubbed Centaurus, is being tracked by the WHO. It may be the most immune-evasive yet. Available from: https://fortune.com/2022/07/06/new-omicron-subvariant-centaurus-ba-2-75-world-health-organization-immune-evasive-expert/. Accessed July 25, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Malik JA, Mulla AH, Farooqi T, Pottoo FH, Anwar S, Rengasamy KRR. Targets and strategies for vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021;137:111254. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111254
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Scientific American. Omicron-Specific COVID Boosters Are Coming. Available from: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/omicron-specific-covid-boosters-are-coming/. Accessed July 25, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CBS News. COVID-19 vaccine for Omicron variant will be ready by August, Moderna CEO says. Available from: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-moderna-omicron-variant-booster-shot-august/. Accessed July 25, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• What to know about omicron-specific Covid vaccines arriving this fall. Available from: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/01/what-to-know-about-omicron-specific-covid-vaccines-arriving-this-fall.html. Accessed July 25, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• National Institutes of Health (NIH). Vaccine-Induced immune response to omicron wanes substantially over time. Available from: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/vaccine-induced-immune-response-omicron-wanes-substantially-over-time. Accessed Jul 25, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Tan SHX, Cook AR, Heng D, Ong B, Lye DC, Tan KB. Effectiveness of BNT162b2 vaccine against omicron in children 5 to 11 years of age. NEJM. 2022;387(6):525–532. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2203209
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• NPR. The omicron subvariant dominating U.S. COVID-19 cases is more vaccine-resistant. Available from: https://www.npr.org/2022/07/15/1111648759/covid-19-coronavirus-omicron-variant-ba5-cdc-vaccines-masks-mayo-clinic. Accessed July 25, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CDC. COVID-19 Forecasts: hospitalizations. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/forecasting/hospitalizations-forecasts.html. Accessed July 22, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CDC. COVID Data Tracker: variant Proportions. Available from: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions. Accessed July 22, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CDC. Ensuring COVID-19 vaccine safety in the US. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html. Accessed July 22, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CDC. Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed July 22, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Yarlagadda H, Patel MA, Gupta V, et al. COVID-19 vaccine challenges in developing and developed countries. Cureus. 2022;14(4). doi:10.7759/cureus.23951
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Doria-Rose NA, Shen X, Schmidt SD, et al. Booster of mRNA-1273 strengthens SARS-CoV-2 Omicron neutralization. medRxiv. 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.12.15.21267805
   Google Scholar
• Garcia-Beltran WF, Hoelzemer A, Lam EC, et al. mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine boosters induce neutralizing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. medRxiv. 2021;183:457–466.
   Google Scholar
• CDC. COVID-19 by county. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html. Accessed July 22, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CDC. How to protect yourself & others. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed July 22, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• CDC. COVID-19 testing: what you need to know. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html. Accessed July 22, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Johns Hopkins Medicine. COVID variants: what you should know. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/a-new-strain-of-coronavirus-what-you-should-know. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar
• Sievers C, Zacher B, Ullrich A, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 both show similarly reduced disease severity of COVID-19 compared to Delta, Germany, 2021 to 2022. Eurosurveillance. 2022;27(22). doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.22.2200396
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• NBC Boston. BA.5 vs. BA.2.75: Boston doctors explain competing omicron subvariants. Available from: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/ba-2-75-boston-doctors-on-whether-we-should-worry-about-The-competing-omicron-subvariant/2772044/. Accessed July 24, 2022.
   Google Scholar