SARS-CoV-2 variants retain high airborne transmissibility by different strategies
Abstract SARS-CoV-2 variants evolve to balance immune evasion and airborne transmission, yet the mechanisms remain unclear.In hamsters, first-wave, Alpha, and Delta variants transmitted efficiently via aerosols.Alpha emitted fewer viral particles than first-wave virus but compensated with a lower infectious dose (ID50).Delta exhibited higher airbor