HKU study: Infection and replication of Omiqueron in the bronchi is 70 times faster than strains such as Delta

On December 5, the research team of the University of Hong Kong's Li Ka Shing School of Medicine (HKU School of Medicine) revealed for the first time how Omicron, the latest variant of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), infects the human respiratory tract.

Image source: The University of Hong Kong

The team found that the Omiljunn variant was nearly 70 times more infected and replicated in human bronchial tissue than the Delta variant and the original virus strain, which explains why the Omiljung spread faster than other variants.

The study also showed that Omiljung's infection with lung tissue was 10 times lower than the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 discovered in 2020, which may be an indicator of lower disease severity. The results are currently being peer-reviewed in medical journals.

Chen Zhiwei, associate professor at the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong Medical College and principal researcher of the Center for Immunity and Infection Research of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, said that it should be noted that the severity of the disease depends not only on the ability of the virus to replicate, but also on the body's immune response to infection, which may lead to an uncontrolled inflammatory response (also known as a cytokine storm).

Chen Zhiwei said that even though the Aumechjong variant itself may be less pathogenic, its extremely high transmission capacity may lead to more severe illness and death. Therefore, referring to recent research by the HKU Medical School team, the overall threat of the Omilon variant may be very significant, referring to the recent research of the M.U. Medical School team that points out that Omi kerong has the ability to evade vaccines or the immunity generated by those who have been infected with the new crown virus.