According to scientists, the Covid-19 virus’ omicron version likely had at least one mutation. Researchers suspect that it was a result of absorbing genetic material from another virus.

Researchers found that this genetic sequence is not present in earlier coronavirus versions, known as SARS-CoV-2. However, it’s common in other viruses, including the ones that cause the common flu, and in the human genome.

Venky Soundararajan from nference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, led the analysis. He said that by inserting this snippet inside itself, Omicron may be looking “more human.” This would allow it to evade attacks by the immune system. study posted on Thursday on the website OSF Preprints.

It could be that the virus is more likely to spread easily and causes milder or less severe disease. Scientists are still unsure if omicron has a higher spread than the other variants or if it is more dangerous. They also don’t know if it can cause more severe diseases, overtake Delta and become more prevalent. Answers to these questions could take weeks.

According to previous studies, cells in the gastrointestinal and lungs can harbour both SARS-CoV-2 viruses and common-cold coronaviruses at the same time. These co-infections can set the stage for viral recombination. This is a process where two virus types in the same host cells interact and create duplicates of themselves. The new copies have genetic material from their “parents”.

Soundararajan and his colleagues suggested in the study that this new mutation might have occurred first in someone who was infected with either of the pathogens.

Soundararajan stated that the same sequence of genetics is found in both the coronaviruses that cause colds and the HIV that causes AIDS.

South Africa is home to the highest HIV prevalence in the world. This weakens your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to infection with other viruses. Soundararajan stated that there might be many individuals in that region where the recombination which gave rise to the ubiquitous set of genes that made up omicron possible.

Soundararajan said that we probably did not see many generations of recombinations that took place over time that lead to the formation of omicron.

To confirm and understand the causes of these mutations, as well as their effect on transmission and function, more research will be needed. There are many theories that the new variant may have evolved in an animal host.

Soundararajan stated that the findings highlight the need for people to get the Covid-19 vaccines.

Soundararajan stated that vaccination is necessary to decrease the chance of other immunocompromised people coming in contact with the SARS-CoV-2 viruses.