The HKU team successfully isolated and cultured the Omiljung strain: it will be used in the development of a vaccine

(Observer News) The University of Hong Kong website reported on November 30 that the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong announced on November 30 that it had successfully isolated the new crown Omilon variant from clinical specimens. The isolated strains of virus will be used to develop and produce inactivated all-virus vaccines.

Pictured from the website of the University of Hong Kong

On the 29th, the Team of the University of Hong Kong successfully isolated the mutant virus strain, only four days after the two cases of the New Coronavirus of the Omi kerong Variant appeared in Hong Kong on the 25th of this month, and only five days after the World Health Organization (WHO) received a report of the mutant virus from South Africa.

According to the Website of the University of Hong Kong, this may be the first research team in Asia to successfully isolate and cultivate a variant of the Aomi Kerong virus.

The research team is further isolating and culturing the strain to obtain a larger number of variant viruses for subsequent experiments. The cultured virus will be used in animal models to assess its transmissibility, immune evasion and pathogenicity. The team is also actively exploring the possibility of collaborating on the development and production of an inactivated all-virus vaccine.

The University of Hong Kong has the only biosafety level 3 laboratory for the research of emerging infectious diseases in Hong Kong, and the isolation and cultivation of viruses is carried out in strict accordance with the operational norms of the P3 laboratory of the University of Hong Kong.

At present, the HKU Microbiology Department team is conducting further isolation and purification of the mutant virus to create conditions for the development and production of an inactivated all-virus vaccine.

The World Health Organization said on November 26 that the new variant, B.1.1.529, is a "variant of concern" that poses a "very high" global risk, naming it Omicron. This is the fifth variant of the coronavirus to be listed as a "variant of concern" after Delta. At present, Aumi Kerong cases have been detected in Australia, Belgium, Botswana, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Canada and other places around the world. Local governments have also issued strict entry and exit restrictions and upgraded the level of quarantine measures.