RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant virus isolates are highly sensitive to interferon treatment
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.01.20.477067
DO 10.1101/2022.01.20.477067
A1 Denisa Bojkova
A1 Tamara Rothenburger
A1 Sandra Ciesek
A1 Mark N. Wass
A1 Martin Michaelis
A1 Jindrich Cinatl, jr.
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/01/24/2022.01.20.477067.abstract
AB Recently, we have shown that SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus isolates are less effective at inhibiting the host cell interferon response than Delta viruses. Here, we present further evidence that reduced interferon-antagonising activity explains at least in part why Omicron variant infections are inherently less severe than infections with other SARS-CoV-2 variants. Most importantly, we here also show that Omicron variant viruses display enhanced sensitivity to interferon treatment, which makes interferons promising therapy candidates for Omicron patients, in particular in combination with other antiviral agents.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.