The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant

On 26 November 2021, the WHO designated the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 to be the fifth Variant of Concern (VOC) and assigned it the name “Omicron”. This variant has more than thirty changes in the spike protein with fifteen point mutations in the RBD, including several found in other VOCs linked to increased transmissibility and blocking antibody evasion. Omicron probably originated in southern Africa but is now known to be in many countries. Recognition of this variant has been facilitated due to “S gene dropout”, meaning that one of the three PCR target genes is not detected.

Spike mutation sites found in Omicron are:
A67V, Δ69-70, T95I, G142D/Δ143-145, Δ211/L212I, ins214EPE, G339D, S371L, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, G446S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493K, G496S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, T547K, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, N856K, Q954H, N969K, L981F

GeneTex has a wide range of antibodies whose immunogens do not contain any Omicron mutation sites, thus making them ideal reagents for studies of this variant. Please see the images below identifying several of these products.

Highlighted Antibodies

Spike RBD antibody [HL257] (GTX635692)	Spike S1 antibody [HL1] (GTX635656)	Spike S2 antibody [HL237] (GTX635693)	Spike antibody [1A9] (GTX632604)

GeneTex antibodies that may detect the Omicron VOC spike protein based on immunogen sequence analysis:

Product Name	Clonality	Applications	Cat. No.
Spike RBD antibody [HL257]	Rb RecAb	WB, ICC/IF, IHC-P, ELISA, IHC-P (cell pellet)	GTX635692
Spike S1 antibody [HL1]	Rb RecAb	WB, ICC/IF, ELISA, Sandwich ELISA	GTX635656
Spike S2 antibody [HL237]	Rb RecAb	WB, ICC/IF, ELISA, Sandwich ELISA, IHC-P (cell pellet)	GTX635693
Spike antibody [1A9]	Ms mAb	WB, ICC/IF, IHC-P, FACS, IP, ELISA, EM, Sandwich ELISA, IHC-P (cell pellet)	GTX632604
Spike antibody	Rb pAb	WB, ICC/IF, ELISA, Sandwich ELISA	GTX135360
Spike RBD antibody	Rb pAb	WB, ICC/IF	GTX135385
Spike S2 / S2′ antibody	Rb pAb	WB, ICC/IF, ELISA, Sandwich ELISA	GTX135386