Our lab plays a key role in sequencing influenza isolates, antigenic characterization, and phylogenetic analyses - particularly of these animal viruses - used during these WHO meetings. The World Health Organization hosts an Influenza vaccine composition meeting (VCM) biannually, where influenza experts from around the world to summarize data on animal flus infecting humans and determine the most effective combination of influenza strains to include in the annual flu vaccine. WHO decides influenza virus vaccine composition Since becoming a Collaborating Center for the World Health Organization (WHO), our center focuses on the human-animal interface of influenza infections - the source of influenza pandemics. Today, research labs led by Richard Webby, PhD, perform influenza surveillance, whole-genome sequencing, and inform vaccine composition. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, flu isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.īut it’s here, in the heart of Memphis, where world-class influenza research has occurred since Robert Webster, PhD, began the influenza program at St. The most important implication of seeing Omicron becoming a new SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, due to its numerous functional mutations that confer antigenic shift, is the essential need for new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-specific vaccines.When most people think of St. With Omicron comes the first “antigenic shift” and a new pandemic virus. To carry the approximate analogy with influenza further, the immunodominant spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is like the immunodominant hemagglutinin (H) protein of influenza A.īefore Omicron, variants of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 were analogous to “antigenic drift,” e.g., D614G and the four previous WHO-designated variants of concern: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta.
H protein antigenic shift or antigenic drift how to#
In addition, Omicron as a “COVID-21” pandemic means we should reconsider the future of SARS-CoV-2 in terms of what to anticipate and how to recognize what actions to take. In my opinion, this concept that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern is already becoming the second SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a “COVID-21,” is crucial because it means we will need to reexamine our responses to Omicron. Influenza A virus antigenic shifts require new pandemic influenza-specific vaccines. Mutations in the immunodominant hemagglutinin (H) protein of influenza cause major antigenic changes termed “antigenic shift” (rather than lesser, more frequent changes termed “antigenic drift”). With influenza, an antigenic shift is a hallmark of a new influenza pandemic. Of note, these authors do not propose that Omicron will become a second pandemic, despite their use of the term “Omicron antigenic shift.” While influenza antigenic shift is defined as genetic reassortment of the RNA genome segments, the mechanism of accumulation of a large number of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron S remains to be established.”
“The staggering number of substitutions present in Omicron S marks a dramatic shift in antigenicity and is associated with immune evasion of unprecedented magnitude for SARS-CoV-2 and a putative broadening of tropism. 14, an international group of renowned researchers posted a manuscript on bioRxiv titled, “Broadly neutralizing antibodies overcome Omicron antigenic shift.” They state: Lucey, MD, MPH, FIDSA Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Medical Education Community of Practiceĭaniel R.Fellows-In-Training Career & Education Center.myIDSA Practice Managers Community Opt-in Form.Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence Program.
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