Attenuated fusogenicity and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

Rigel Suzuki, Daichi Yamasoba, Izumi Kimura, Lei Wang, Mai Kishimoto, Jumpei Ito, Yuhei Morioka, Naganori Nao, Hesham Nasser, Keiya Uriu, Yusuke Kosugi, Masumi Tsuda, Yasuko Orba, Michihito Sasaki, Ryo Shimizu, Ryoko Kawabata, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Hiroyuki Asakura, Mami Nagashima, Kenji Sadamasu, Kazuhisa Yoshimura, Hirofumi Sawa, Terumasa Ikeda, Takashi Irie, Keita Matsuno (), Shinya Tanaka (), Takasuke Fukuhara () and Kei Sato ()
Additional contact information
Rigel Suzuki: Hokkaido University
Daichi Yamasoba: The University of Tokyo
Izumi Kimura: The University of Tokyo
Lei Wang: Hokkaido University
Mai Kishimoto: Hokkaido University
Jumpei Ito: The University of Tokyo
Yuhei Morioka: Hokkaido University
Naganori Nao: Hokkaido University
Hesham Nasser: Kumamoto University
Keiya Uriu: The University of Tokyo
Yusuke Kosugi: The University of Tokyo
Masumi Tsuda: Hokkaido University
Yasuko Orba: Hokkaido University
Michihito Sasaki: Hokkaido University
Ryo Shimizu: Kumamoto University
Ryoko Kawabata: Hiroshima University
Kumiko Yoshimatsu: Hokkaido University
Hiroyuki Asakura: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health
Mami Nagashima: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health
Kenji Sadamasu: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health
Kazuhisa Yoshimura: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health
Hirofumi Sawa: Hokkaido University
Terumasa Ikeda: Kumamoto University
Takashi Irie: Hiroshima University
Keita Matsuno: Hokkaido University
Shinya Tanaka: Hokkaido University
Takasuke Fukuhara: Hokkaido University
Kei Sato: The University of Tokyo

Nature, 2022, vol. 603, issue 7902, 700-705

Abstract: Abstract The emergence of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is an urgent global health concern1. In this study, our statistical modelling suggests that Omicron has spread more rapidly than the Delta variant in several countries including South Africa. Cell culture experiments showed Omicron to be less fusogenic than Delta and than an ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2. Although the spike (S) protein of Delta is efficiently cleaved into two subunits, which facilitates cell–cell fusion2,3, the Omicron S protein was less efficiently cleaved compared to the S proteins of Delta and ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, in a hamster model, Omicron showed decreased lung infectivity and was less pathogenic compared to Delta and ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Our multiscale investigations reveal the virological characteristics of Omicron, including rapid growth in the human population, lower fusogenicity and attenuated pathogenicity.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04462-1

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