Hong Kong Researchers Successfully Isolate Omicron from Samples... Positive Sign for Vaccine Development

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Hong Kong researchers have succeeded in isolating the new COVID-19 variant Omicron from clinical samples for the first time in Asia, according to reports by Hong Kong English daily The Standard on the 1st.

Amid global alarm over the spread of the Omicron variant, this is seen as a positive sign for related vaccine development.

According to the report, the University of Hong Kong research team announced the day before that they succeeded in isolating the Omicron variant from clinical COVID-19 samples on the night of the 29th of last month.

This came just four days after the Omicron variant was first confirmed in Hong Kong, and five days after South Africa first reported the variant to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The researchers stated that during the isolation process, they inserted the Omicron variant strain sample into 'Vero E6' cells, which have particularly good susceptibility to the COVID-19 virus, to infect the cells.

They explained that the virus then proliferated massively, diluting the concentration of other substances within the cells, with cytopathic effects starting after 24 hours and completing within 48 hours.

Cytopathic effects refer to the structural and biochemical impacts that viruses cultured in cells have on host cells.

The research team said, "We took immediate action after recognizing the serious threat of this variant," adding, "Isolating the variant is the first step in urgent research on the variant."

The team also stated that they are conducting further isolation and purification of the Omicron variant for the production of inactivated vaccines.

Inactivated vaccines refer to vaccines that use viruses with replication ability removed to generate antibodies in the body.

The Standard explained, "Isolating the variant virus is an important development that enables the development and production of vaccines against Omicron."

So far, three patients infected with the Omicron variant have been reported in Hong Kong.