TWiV 836: OMG, Omicron!

<p>TWiV reveals all that we know so far about the variant of concern B.1.1.529, also called Omicron, and describes a study on the ability of the alpha, beta, and delta variants to reproduce in cells in culture and induce membrane fusion.</p> <p>Hosts: <a href= "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Racaniello">Vincent Racaniello</a>, <a href="http://alandove.com/">Alan Dove</a>, <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/spindler-lab/">Kathy Spindler</a>, and <a href= "http://twitter.com/bioprofbarker">Brianne Barker</a></p> <p>Subscribe (free): <a href= "http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=300973784">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL3R3aXYubWljcm9iZXdvcmxkLmxpYnN5bnByby5jb20vdHdpdg%3D%3D">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href= "http://twiv.microbeworld.libsynpro.com/twiv">RSS</a>, <a href="http://eepurl.com/Gcw59">email</a></p> <p>Become a <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/contribute">patron</a> of TWiV!</p> <h3><strong>Links for this episode</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Omicron <a href= "https://covariants.org/variants/21K.Omicron">genome changes</a> (Covariants)</li> <li>Omicron <a href= "https://covariants.org/shared-mutations">shared changes</a> with other variants (Covariants)</li> <li>Update on <a href= "https://www.who.int/news/item/28-11-2021-update-on-omicron">Omicron</a> (WHO)</li> <li><a href= "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.06.455491v1">Spike polymutant</a> PMS20 (bioRxiv)</li> <li><a href= "https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embj.2021108944">Syncytium formation</a> of variants of concern (EMBO J)</li> <li>Variants as <a href= "https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embj.2021110041">super cell fusers</a> (EMBO J)</li> <li><a href="https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-836-letters/">Letters read</a> on TWiV 836</li> <li>Timestamps by <a href= "http://www.twitter.com/jrrmicro">Jolene</a>. Thanks!</li> </ul> <h3>Weekly Picks</h3> <p><strong>Brianne</strong> – <a href= "https://amzn.to/3ociXC1">Immune</a><br /> <strong>Kathy</stro