A few weeks ago, no one had heard of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Since its recent discovery by scientists in South Africa, infections with the variant have been found in dozens of U.S. states and countries around the world. Scientists are scrambling to understand whether the new variant, which houses several mutations on the spike protein that infects cells, might be able to evade protection from current vaccines. Virologist and researcher Larissa B. Thackray, PhD, an associate professor of medicine, recently completed experiments in mice in which her team tested the efficacy of vaccines against an earlier SARS-CoV-2 variant, the beta variant. She plans to use the same strategy to test the vaccines against omicron. Meanwhile, Steven J. Lawrence, MD, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, says omicron is likely not the last worrisome variant that will be discovered. But he says old, reliable mitigation techniques — such as wearing a mask, avoiding big crowds and staying home from work when you don't feel well — will remain effective, no matter how infectious omicron turns out to be and no matter how many new viral mutations appear.
The podcast, "Show Me the Science," is produced by the Office of Medical Public Affairs at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
