Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong: The Aomi kerong virus strain is more susceptible to infection of the human bronchi than Delta

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) announced on December 15 that a team of researchers at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong found that the variant strain of the new coronavirus, Olmikron, is more likely to infect the human bronchi than Delta, but is less infectious in the lungs.

Since 2007, Associate Professor of the School of Public Health, HKUST School of Medicine, Principal Investigator Chan Chi-wai and Clinical Professor of the Department of Pathology Lai Kwok Si have used explants from the human respiratory tract for virus research, and this study also used this technology to understand the transmissibility and pathogenesis of Omilon.

The research team successfully isolated Omiljung and compared the infection with Delta and the original virus strain in human respiratory tissues. The team found that Omiqueron replicated more quickly in human bronchial tissue than Delta and the original strain, and that 24 hours after infection, Omiqueron had nearly 70 times more virus than Delta and the original strain. In contrast, Omiljung has nearly 10 times lower replication capacity in lung tissue than the original strain, which means that the degree of pathogenicity may be weaker. The results are currently being peer-reviewed in medical journals.

Chen Zhiwei said it should be noted that the severity of the disease depends not only on the replication ability of the virus, but also on the body's immune response to infection, which may lead to an out-of-control inflammatory response. Even though the Aomi Kerong itself may be less pathogenic, its extremely high transmission capacity may lead to more severe illness and death. Referring to the recent research of the team at the University of Hong Kong School of Medicine, which pointed out that Aumechjong has the ability to evade the COVID-19 vaccine or the immunity generated by those who have been infected with the new crown virus, it can be seen that the overall threat of Omilon may be very significant.