Reduced Replication Efficacy of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Omicron Variant in “Mini-gut” Organoids

Rear Window—What Can the Gut Tell Us About Long-COVID?

“…Extending these findings, Miyakawa et al 3 now show reduced viral replication efficacy of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 compared with the B.1.617.2/Delta variant. This interesting observation correlated to less cell damage as well as to reduced lactose dehydrogenase and high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) release, induced by BA.1 and BA.2.…”

“… 2 In this issue of Gastroenterology , 2 articles focus on the intestine and pressing issues in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. 3 , 4 The first article, by Miyakawa et al, 3 addresses the direct infection of intestinal cells by SARS-CoV2. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and pain, are frequently observed in patients with COVID-19, 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 possibly due to direct infection of the intestinal cells.…”

“… 11 However, the question about potential differences in gastrointestinal infection due to variants of the virus remained to be investigated. In this issue, Miyakawa et al 3 now make use of mini-guts as tools to study cell-type specific replication behavior of novel variants of potential concern. Other studies had previously observed altered cell-type specific viral replication efficacies of B.1.529/ Omicron BA.1 compared with B.1.617.2/Delta in lower airway organoids, while upper airway replication was increased.…”

COVID-19 and Gut Injury

“…Given the increasing evidence that the gut microbiota and environment play an important role in COVID-19 induced GI symptoms, other strategies such as symbiotics and postbiotics could also present as valuable treatment, though these remain to be investigated in detail. Excitingly, there is evidence of using intestinal cells (Caco-2 cells) and organoids to test the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and for the effects of the gut microbiota, thereby assisting in quicker translation of therapies into clinical practice [ 130 , 131 ].…”

Characteristics and implications of Omicron variant associated digestive system infections – Correspondence

“…Kei et al demonstrated that the Omicron variant strain had a lower proliferation efficiency in the intestinal model. They assayed the viral RNA and titer in the culture supernatant and found that the Omicron variants had an extremely low replication capacity [ 6 ]. A large retrospective study on the Omicron outbreak in South Africa showed that the hospitalization rate in adolescents and children to be significantly higher than those reported in the previous outbreaks.…”