Sandra Jesek believes that the new variant is not very different from the original virus

INTERVIEW.. A German researcher: special “BCR” tests to determine “Omicron” within days

• Sandra Jesic.

  From the source

• Initial tests showed changes in the protein envelope of the virus.

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Sandra Jesik is one of the first researchers to examine the novel coronavirus mutant.

The German virologist says that it is still not clear whether “Omicron” is more contagious than “Delta” or not, and the following are excerpts from the interview with Der Spiegel magazine:

• During the past days, the world was concerned about the new Corona virus.

You examined the first suspected case in Germany.

What happened?

•• Messages of this nature have been circulated on several occasions in the past 12 months.

But on Friday afternoon, we were notified of our first suspected case.

It is related to the person who returned from vacation in South Africa, a week ago, and tested positive.

• What did the tests show?

•• Two of the tests were unsuccessful, because the genetic makeup of “Omicron” contains many mutations;

That was worrying.

Then we consulted the National Virology Laboratory at the Charité University Hospital, in Berlin, which is run by the German virologist, Christian Drosten.

Meanwhile, we began to sequence the entire virus genome.

• Is it a different feeling when you know that you may have a completely different form of the Corona virus before you?

•• Our security protocols are always very limited, but the tension was naturally different.

In recent weeks, we've checked the delta variable hundreds of times, but now suddenly we have to interpret completely new curves.

Because of the many mutations, the results looked different for alpha and beta variants, for example.

It was a puzzle.

• How difficult is it to determine the variable "Omicron"?

•• The first case was very difficult, but now, we have many cases, which is enough to establish a little confidence.

Plus, within days, special PCR tests designed to identify the omicron variant will be available, and companies are already working on it.

Once there, this variable will be easier to identify.

• Once it became clear that the sample was for the variable “Omicron”, what did you do?

•• We have checked if the various nasal swab tests and rapid antigen tests still work.

And there was a great deal of uncertainty about the tests because the virus had mutated in many locations.

• Posted pictures on Twitter with notes, some of them handwritten;

And I said there was nothing to worry about about tests.

•• I conducted three tests that were available to us on the site.

And we have no problems.

Surprisingly, the three antigen tests we tried also worked.

This was not expected, because there are also changes in the protein envelope of the virus, which are the elements that the tests interact with.

• How did you obtain samples from these experiments?

•• We used the sample we had in the lab for the three PCR tests.

For antigen tests, I went to the homes of infected people.

• Is it possible that "Omicron" is an entirely new pathogen, because the differences from the original virus from Wuhan are so great?

•• I do not think so.

What we saw is that the coronavirus continued to adapt to humans.

It originally came from the animal world.

With alpha and delta, the virus changed, becoming more transmissible.

Now, it may have mutated further so that it no longer reacts strongly with the antibodies, and the immune system can't defend against it either, but it's still a brother or grandson of the original virus.

“Corona” continued to adapt to humans, and changed with “alpha” and “delta”, but it is still the brother or grandson of the original virus.

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