"Omicron Subvariants: Adapting Immune Evasion Tactics in COVID-19 Evolution"

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 have shown increased levels of antibody escape and enhanced innate immune evasion, threatening vaccine efficacy and increasing hospitalizations. These subvariants have evolved to reduce innate immune activation during infection, with BA.5 displaying the most efficient innate immune antagonism. The increased expression of viral proteins Orf6 and N is a major factor contributing to the enhanced innate immune suppression by these emerging subvariants.