Convergent evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants leading to the emergence of BQ.1.1 variant
Nature Communications·
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-023-38188-z
- PMID
- 37169744
- PMCID
- PMC10175283
- OpenAlex
- W4376223660
- Study type
- Genomic study
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Publication version
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Open linked preprint →Why this research matters now
The findings illuminate evolutionary rules governing convergent evolution in Omicron lineages and characterize immune evasion properties of emerging variants, relevant to understanding viral fitness and population immunity dynamics.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study examined convergent evolution patterns in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants and characterized the properties of the BQ.1.1 lineage.
Study design
The investigation used phylogenetic analysis, epidemic dynamics modelling, neutralization assays, and hamster pathogenicity experiments to characterize viral evolution and properties.
Population and setting
Omicron subvariants circulating worldwide in late 2022 were analyzed. Hamster models were used for pathogenicity assessment.
Main findings
Five amino acid substitutions at spike protein residues R346, K444, L452, N460, and F486 were recurrently acquired across Omicron lineages and explained a large proportion of fitness variation. BQ.1.1 demonstrated greater immune evasion against breakthrough BA.2 and BA.5 infection sera compared to BA.5, but showed lower pathogenicity than BA.5 in hamsters.
Public-health relevance
The findings illuminate evolutionary rules governing convergent evolution in Omicron lineages and characterize immune evasion properties of emerging variants, relevant to understanding viral fitness and population immunity dynamics.
Important limitations
This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. The abstract scope is limited to Omicron lineages as of 2022. Full interpretation of methods, statistical power, and generalizability requires review of the original paper.
GIDS interpretation
The paper was classified under genomic epidemiology, outbreak investigation, and transmission dynamics topics with linkage to SARS and COVID-19 disease categories. This classification supports discoverability for surveillance workflows focused on variant evolution and immune escape.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 10 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.