AFP – Rome-The Omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 presents many more mutations than the Delta strain, according to a first "image" of it, made and published by the Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome.

In the three-dimensional “image”, similar to a cartography, “it is clear that the omicron variant has many more mutations than the delta variant [which also has a large number of mutations], concentrated mainly in an area of ​​the protein that interacts with human cells ”, explained the team of researchers in a statement published Sunday.

"This does not automatically mean that these variations are more dangerous, simply that the virus has once again adapted to the human species, generating another variant," the researchers said. "Other studies will tell us if this adaptation is neutral, less dangerous or more dangerous."

The research team at the prestigious Bambino Gesù establishment focused on the search for mutations at the level of “the three-dimensional structure of the spike protein ”, explained to AFP Claudia Alteri, professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Milan and researcher at the Roman hospital.

This protein, which is the part of the virus “that is studied with the most attention”, is “responsible for the recognition of the human receptor and for the entry of the virus into cells”. "It is in the spike that monoclonal antibodies and, of course, vaccines act," he stressed.

The image was made “from the study of sequences of this new variant contributed to the scientific community” and mainly from “Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong”.