Scientists have found two sub-strains of the omicron mutant that can fool immune bodies from previous COVID-19 infections enough to cause a new outbreak.
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The research included PA4 and PA5 sub-strains of Omicron
Scientists in South Africa have concluded that “two omicron mutated sub-strains of the Corona virus can deceive the immune bodies formed in the body from previous infections with Covid-19, enough to cause a new outbreak,” and the scientists added that “these two strains are less able to coexist. in the blood of those who received vaccinations to prevent the disease.
Scientists from more than one institution examined the PA4 and PA5 sub-strains of the Omicron mutant, which the World Health Organization added last month to its watch list. Scientists drew blood samples from 39 participants who had previously been infected with the “Omicron” mutant, when it first appeared at the end of last year.
Fifteen of these had received preventive vaccinations, 8 of them had the Pfizer vaccine, and 7 had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, while the rest had not received any vaccine.
The study, whose preliminary version was published at the beginning of last week, said that “the group that received the vaccines showed an ability to neutralize the virus by more than 5 times, and therefore it is better protected.”
In samples drawn from those who did not receive vaccinations, there was an 8-fold decrease in antibody production upon exposure to the two sub-strains, compared to the original Omicron strain, PA1. The blood samples of those who received the vaccine showed only a 3-fold reduction.