key: cord-0770507-ogwsn082 authors: Pascarella, Stefano; Ciccozzi, Massimo; Bianchi, Martina; Benvenuto, Domenico; Cauda, Roberto; Cassone, Antonio title: The value of electrostatic potentials of the Spike Receptor binding and N-terminal domains in addressing transmissibility and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 Variants. of Concern date: 2022-02-23 journal: J Infect DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.02.023 sha: dfb8bda0b979aa3caba9c96326ec9d3a9f391de4 doc_id: 770507 cord_uid: ogwsn082 Comparison of the surface electrostatic potential of the N-terminal (NTD) and the Receptor Binding Domains (RBD) of the Wuhan and Omicron Spikes. The entire Spikes are represented with transparent ribbon models. Only the NTD and RBD surfaces of the chain A are represented. Domain net charges are reported within parenthesis beside the domain labels. Surface colour ranges from -5.0 (red) to +5.0 (blue) kT/e. [Figure: see text] . We here particularly focus upon VOC which have been able to spread globally and overtake the previously dominant viral strain(s). We assign numerical values to the EPrbd and EPntd, and identify some peculiarities of the Omicron variant that could markedly impact virus transmissibility and pathogenesis. VOC RBD and NTD, their modelling and energy minimization were as previously described (4 Sctrutural dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants : A health monitoring strategyfor anticipating Covid-19 outbreaks The electrostatic potential of the Omicron variant spike is higher than in Delta and Delta-plus variants: a hint to higher transmissibility? A review of human coronaviruses' receptors: the host-cell targets fro the crown-bearing viruses Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells Increased transmissibility and global spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern as at Broadly neutralizin antibodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 Omicron antigenic shift SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: antibody evasion and cryo-EM structure of spike protein-ACE2 complex Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 omicron B.1.1.529 variant by post immunization serum the surface electrostatic potential of the N-terminal (NTD) and the Receptor Binding Domains (RBD) of the Wuhan and Omicron Spikes. The entire Spikes are represented with transparent ribbon models. Only the NTD and RBD surfaces of the chain A are represented