A Mini Review of Transmission and Pathogenesis of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variant

Abstract

The emergence of the alpha, beta, and delta SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VOC) was associated with new waves of infections, sometimes across the entire world. Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infects and proliferates faster than the Delta variant and original SARS-CoV-2 in human bronchus but with a less severe infection in the lungs. The higher proliferation rate of Omicron in human bronchus may explain why Omicron may transmit faster between humans than previous variants. The significantly lower infection in the lungs than the original SARS-CoV-2 may be an indicator of lower disease severity. This paper reviews literature regarding the transmission and pathogenesis of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant.