The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant

On 26 November 2021, the WHO designated the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 to be the fifth Variant of Concern (VOC) and assigned it the name “Omicron”. Of the more than 50 mutations in its genome, at least 32 are in the spike protein with fifteen point mutations in the RBD (Figure 1), including several found in other VOCs linked to increased transmissibility and immune evasion. Like other VOCs, mutations are also found in Omicron’s nucleocapsid protein (Figure 2). Omicron is widely distributed and is outcompeting Delta. Though it appears to cause more mild disease, it nevertheless has driven increased hospitalizations.

Figure 1. Spike mutation sites found in Omicron are A67V, Δ69-70, T95I, G142D/Δ143-145, Δ211/L212I, ins214EPE, G339D, S371L, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, G446S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493K, G496S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, T547K, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, N856K, Q954H, N969K, L981F.

Figure 2. Nucleocapsid protein mutation sites found in Omicron are P13L, Δ31-33, R203M, G204R, and in Delta are D63G, R203M, G215C, D377Y.

GeneTex has a wide range of recombinant antibody and protein reagents for Omicron research. Notably, nucleocapsid antibodies whose immunogens do not contain any Omicron mutation sites are shown in Figure 2.

Spike RBD Protein, B.1.1.529 / Omicron variant, His tag (GTX136716-pro)

Nucleocapsid protein, B.1.1.529 / Omicron variant, His tag (GTX03400-pro)

Spike RBD antibody [HL257] (GTX635692)

Spike RBD antibody [HL1014] (GTX635807)

Lateral Flow Assay (Recommended Nucleocapsid Antibody Pairs)

Antibody Pair		Product Name	Clonality	EC50	Cat. No.
Pair I		Nucleocapsid antibody [HL5511]	Rb recAb	14 pM	GTX635689
		Nucleocapsid antibody [HL448]	Rb recAb	11 pM	GTX635686
Pair II		Nucleocapsid antibody [HL5410]	Rb recAb	9 pM	GTX635685
		Nucleocapsid antibody [HL455]	Rb recAb	6 pM	GTX635688

Product Name Applications Cat. No.   Spike RBD antibody [HL257] WB, ICC/IF, IHC-P, ELISA, IHC-P (cell pellet) GTX635692 Spike RBD antibody [HL1014] ICC/IF, ELISA, Sandwich ELISA GTX635807   Spike RBD antibody [HL1002] ELISA, Lateral Flow, Neutralizing/Inhibition, Sandwich ELISA GTX635791 Spike RBD antibody [HL1003] ICC/IF, ELISA, Neutralizing/Inhibition, Sandwich ELISA GTX635792