Covariants.org have released the mutations for the Omicron Variant.
There is a single change in the E-Protein compared to over 30 in the Spike.
Note: Nonsynonymous means that it caused the protein to change shape in some way.
This is not an accurate description, but it might help with visualisation of the problem.
Imagine groups of tiny weirdly shaped magnets. Get a whole bunch to fit together and they form a large mass of a particular shape, ('Protein').
Some of the bonds are strong because the shape and the positive/negative poles are compatible, and some are weak because the shape only allows a few compatible polarities to get close enough, and others are simply repelled.
One big bunch, (let's call it a 'spike protein'), and another, ('ACE2 Receptor') have a nicely compatable shape and bunch of polarities that attract.
We release a cloud of a specially shaped and charged, tiny-weirdly-shaped-magnets, ('anti-bodies') into the mix.
The new objects are designed to stick to the invading mass and change the outer shape. Their purpose is to form a change to the outer layer so that makes it impossible for the invading mass to connect to the target.
In another instance, the change might destroy camouflage, allowing an attack by defending forces.
Think of the above descriptions as metaphors. Their purpose is just to give one a handle with which to grasp the idea.
For those who have a real grasp of the process, my apologies.
The shape of the S-Protein in the below list has changed a lot and the E-Protein has changed extremely little in comparison.
Maybe someone could explain to me why the world is spending billions of dollars going after the most rapidly changing protein.
https://covariants.org/variants/21K.OmicronVariant: 21K (Omicron)also known as B.1.1.529
Nonsynonymous
- S:A67V
- S:H69-
- S:V70-
- S:T95I
- S:G142-
- S:V143-
- S:Y144-
- S:Y145D
- S:N211-
- S:L212I
- S:G339D
- S:S371L
- S:S373P
- S:S375F
- S:K417N
- S:N440K
- S:G446S
- S:S477N
- S:T478K
- S:E484A
- S:Q493R
- S:G496S
- S:Q498R
- S:N501Y
- S:Y505H
- S:T547K
- S:D614G
- S:H655Y
- S:N679K
- S:P681H
- S:N764K
- S:D796Y
- S:N856K
- S:Q954H
- S:N969K
- S:L981F
- N:P13L
- N:E31-
- N:R32-
- N:S33-
- N:R203K
- N:G204R
- ORF1a:K856R
- ORF1a:S2083-
- ORF1a:L2084I
- ORF1a:A2710T
- ORF1a:T3255I
- ORF1a:P3395H
- ORF1a:L3674-
- ORF1a:S3675-
- ORF1a:G3676-
- ORF1a:I3758V
- ORF1b:P314L
- ORF1b:I1566V
- ORF9b:P10S
- ORF9b:E27-
- ORF9b:N28-
- ORF9b:A29-
- E:T9I
- M:D3G
- M:Q19E
- M:A63T
