Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
COVID-19: Challenges of Viral Variants
Jana L Jacobs1, Ghady Haidar1, John W Mellors1
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; email: JLJ90@pitt.edu, haidarg@upmc.edu, jwm1@pitt.edu.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by SARS-CoV-2 evolution and emergence of viral variants that have far exceeded initial expectations. Five major variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron) have emerged, each having both unique and overlapping amino acid substitutions that have affected transmissibility, disease severity, and susceptibility to natural or vaccine-induced immune responses and monoclonal antibodies. Several of the more recent variants appear to have evolved properties of immune evasion, particularly in cases of prolonged infection. Tracking of existing variants and surveillance for new variants are critical for an effective pandemic response.
More Related Videos
08:41Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
Published on: November 5, 2021
06:08Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research
Published on: September 8, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Viral Mutations
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Viral Recombination
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Introduction to Virus
Viral Structure