Pulmonologist Puryasev: Omicron strain grew on HIV-infected

The omicron strain grew in greenhouse conditions in South Africa and may turn out to be more aggressive than previous versions, says pulmonologist Sergei Puryasev.

In an interview with Life, the specialist explained that the virus developed for a very long time in immunocompromised HIV-infected patients. “In particular, in South Africa. They are practically all amazed there. Therefore, the virus developed there, one might say, in greenhouse conditions. And due to this, he can be very aggressive and cause pneumonia, because he did not meet any resistance anywhere. That is, they have no antibodies, HIV-infected people, and, as a result, this virus grew like Christ’s in the bosom. Because he became very fast. Apparently, there he has these spike proteins, thorns, maybe more than it should be, their antibodies were not cut off during mutations, ”the doctor said.

He noticed that this strain can be easily carried by people with weakened immune systems, and in young and healthy people, it can cause a cytokine storm – a strong immune response that threatens the body itself. “This is what happens with pneumococcal infections, when 30-year-olds die, and 60-year-olds endure it in the form of a sneeze. And why? The immune response is frantic in the young, it is completely inadequate: where it was possible only to shake a finger, he hits like a cannon at sparrows, ”said Sergei Puryasev.

Recall that the new strain of coronavirus B.1.1.529, which contains 32 mutations in the S-protein, was first identified in South Africa and Botswana in early November. Later, the infected were found in 55 countries of the world, including Russia. Omicron has a large number of mutations, it also spreads faster than the delta type, and symptoms develop faster.

The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously reported that mostly vaccinated people are infected with omicron. Of the 43 cases of omicron infection, 34 people were fully vaccinated, including 14 patients who also received a booster dose.