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The recently discovered Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly burst into the public and scientific eye, being detected in more than 26 countries around the world. Given its more than 50 mutations, there is widespread concern about its public health impact, leading theWorld Health Organization to designate it a variant of concern. This Commentary provides a summary of current knowledge and unknowns about this viral variant as of December 2, 2021 and summarizes the key questions that need to be rapidly answered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this commentary, we shed light on the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in viral infections. The mTOR pathway has been demonstrated to be modulated in numerous RNA viruses. Frequently, inhibiting mTOR results in suppression of virus growth and replication. Recent evidence points towards modulation of mTOR in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. We discuss the current literature on mTOR in SARS‐CoV‐2 and highlight evidence in support of a role for mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]