In Italy, showed the first "photo" of the protein of the new strain COVID-19 "omicron"

It is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the data of the Roman and Vatican hospitals Bambino Gesù.

"This is a" photo "in a broad sense, we are talking about a reconstruction made in the laboratory," - explained the representative of the medical institution.

As part of the presentation, scientists showed proteins of two strains.

The most changed areas are highlighted in red: for example, in the delta strain, the number of mutated amino acid residues was 18, and in the new version - 43.

“It is clear that the omicron variant has many more mutations than the delta variant.

They are concentrated primarily in the field of protein, which interacts with human cells, ”added the specialist.

According to the interlocutor of the publication, this indicates the adaptation of the virus to the human species.

Earlier, scientists have identified a new strain of coronavirus in Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong, which could potentially become the most dangerous variant of the coronavirus.

It was named B.1.1.529 and has an "incredibly high" number of mutations.

Kirill Masliev, Candidate of Medical Sciences, head of preventive medicine at EMC, founder of the Heroes Foundation for the support of medical workers, in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda radio, announced the unpredictable future of the COVID-19 pandemic.