The Omicron Mouse Hypothesis gains legs
Evidence for a mouse origin of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/artic…
Evidence for a mouse origin of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/artic…
https://twitter.com/rahulsingh1966/status/1477504754854989833
viruses evolving in the same host species share the mutagens specific to that host’s cellular environment.
the molecular spectrum of post-outbreak Omicron mutations (which are known to have accumulated in humans) was located within the human 95% confidence ellipse.
the molecular spectrum of post-outbreak Omicron mutations (which are known to have accumulated in humans) was located within the human 95% confidence ellipse.
In contrast, the molecular spectrum of pre-outbreak Omicron mutations was within the mouse ellipse, suggesting that the pre-outbreak mutations accumulated in a rodent (in particular a mouse) host.
the molecular spectrum of pre-outbreak Omicron mutations was inconsistent with the rapid accumulation of mutations in humans, but rather suggested a trajectory in which the progenitor of Omicron experienced a reverse zoonotic event from humans to mice most likely in mid-2020)
...and accumulated mutations in a mouse host for more than one year before jumping back to humans in late-2021.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
