UBC researchers complete analysis of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant revealing it has 37 mutations

University of British Columbia researchers say they've completed an analysis of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19, revealing key information about why it's so infectious.

Sriram Subramaniam with the department of biochemistry and molecular biology says it has 37 mutations, three to five times more than any other variant so far.

He says that means Omicron is very effective at evading the binding of antibodies that can neutralize and block its entry into cells, while at the same time it retains the ability to bind with receptors that transport it inside cells, a combination of characteristics that makes the variant particularly transmissible.

The research released last week is awaiting peer review.