Impact of using AI to generate primers for detection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers designed artificial intelligence (AI)-based primers for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant. While several mutations seen in Omicron have been detected in earlier variants, a combination of a high number of such mutations confer the variant with high transmissibility, increased binding affinity to the host cell receptor, immune evasion, decreased antibody neutralization among other properties. The identification of the Omicron variant was achieved using multiple targets or the search for gene target failures (S-gene target failure or SGTF), amplification, and sequencing. Although different methodologies exist to detect the Omicron variant in clinical samples, Omicron-specific primers are not available yet. In the present study, the authors developed Omicron-specific primers based on an AI technique.