episode 836: OMG, Omicron!
TWiV reveals all that we know so far about the variant of concern B.1.1.529, also called Omicron, and describes a study on the ability of the alpha, beta, and delta variants to reproduce in cells in culture and induce membrane fusion.
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker
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Links for this episode- Omicron genome changes (Covariants)
- Omicron shared changes with other variants (Covariants)
- Update on Omicron (WHO)
- Spike polymutant PMS20 (bioRxiv)
- Syncytium formation of variants of concern (EMBO J)
- Variants as super cell fusers (EMBO J)
- Letters read on TWiV 836
- Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!
Brianne – Immune
Kathy – Elizabeth Lee Hazen and Rachel Fuller Brown, discoverers of nystatin oneand two
Alan – Four Lost Cities by Analee Newitz
Vincent – Deadly Choices by Paul Offit
Ryan – Ronny Jackson (one and two)
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
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