Studies clarify a mild trend: Omigron protects the lungs

Studies clarify the mild trend
Omigron protects the lungs

Hope for the Omigron variant is growing. Researchers in Japan and the United States have discovered “surprising things” about hamsters and mice in the latest SARS-Cowie-2 form. A microbiologist speculates that this variant has become an expert in the mouth and nose.

Scientists in the United States and Japan have found additional evidence as to why Omigran infections are less dangerous than other types of corona virus. Laboratory tests have shown that the virus load on the noses of hamsters is much higher than in previous forms of SARS-COV-2. In the lungs, on the other hand, it is only one-tenth as much as it used to be for variations such as delta.

The Experiment, Involving a total of 65 researchers, which has not yet been published in a scientific journal, but only online, pre-printed. So external researchers have not yet verified the results.

Comparison with hamster and mouse

However, the findings are consistent Studied at the University of Hong Kong. In mid-December, researchers there discovered that Omigran reproduced in the trachea 70 times faster than the delta variant in the first 24 hours after infection. However, at the same time, they found that the latest variant of Sars-CoV-2 spreads ten times slower than previous variants in lung tissue. This may indicate a less dangerous disease, and the researchers summarize their results.

The US-Japanese study group comes to the same conclusion. For their investigation, they found that mice and rats were infected with different types of corona virus. Animals infected with Omigran showed less damage to the lungs, lost less weight, and died less frequently.

“It was amazing”

Less severe Omigron gradients are particularly noticeable in golden hamsters. Michael Diamond, a virologist at the University of Washington in St. Louis, explains that in this species, infections are always more severe than all other types of corona virus. “New York Times”. “It was amazing.”

In most cases Sars-CoV-2 is over Aerosols in air They are ingested when inhaled. Therefore, corona infections usually begin in the upper respiratory tract and begin to spread from the mouth or nose to the throat. If the course is mild, the infection ends at this point. Of course if severe, the corona virus also infects the lungs, where it can cause dangerous damage. The Omigron variant seems to manage this less than ever before Cambridge University researchers Have established. One of them is microbiologist Ravi Gupta, The “New York Times”Omigron has become a specialist in “especially the mouth and nose” in the upper respiratory tract.

There is no reason to clarify everything

Before any conclusions can be drawn, different conclusions must be confirmed by further study. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that the Omigron is a race “Sweetspot” variant It spreads fast but is less dangerous than its predecessors. That’s it Number of serious cases Despite a high number of infections in both South Africa and Great Britain it was relatively low. The wave shines in its time Should be less than the previous one.

Nevertheless, according to experts, there is still no reason to clarify everything. Robert Koch Company (RKI) warns in the current one Weekly report In view of the rapid spread of the Omigron variant a “Sudden increase in the number of infections” In Germany. It can also overload the health system. Not only is there an increase in the number of patients in particular, but also many nurses and doctors at the same time due to infection or corona contact. In isolation Condition.

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