The new coronavirus variant virus strain Omicron is coming fiercely. Some experts estimate that it is related to the virus jumping off animals and then infecting people, causing genetic mutations.
However, Yuan Guoyong, Chair Professor of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, believes that the most likely reason is that there are more AIDS patients in South Africa, whose immune system is low and the virus can multiply in the body until one of the mutations escapes.
Yuan Guoyong (middle) estimates that Omicron has more mutations, most likely because there are more AIDS patients in South Africa, who have low immunity and provide a good environment for the virus to continue to multiply.
(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
Omicron has more than 30 mutations in the S protein. Xiao Jieheng, associate professor of the Department of Medical Technology and Informatics of the University of Science and Technology, estimated yesterday that the new crown virus jumped into animals and then infected humans, causing a large number of genetic mutations.
In an interview with the media today (1st), Yuan Guoyong pointed out that after the mink was infected and then transmitted back to humans, the number of mutations was not high. It is estimated that there are more AIDS patients in South Africa who have low immunity and provide a good environment. The virus continues to multiply in large numbers.
Maybe South Africa has become so resistant that no one can detect it until one of them becomes too many to break out first; or the other is more likely, there may be more AIDS patients, it is not clear (the virus), and the serum neutralizing antibody is not high enough, continue to reproduce well. The environmental mutation has fallen, and it has escaped the neutralizing antibody, and there have been many mutations.
Yuan Guoyong, Chair Professor, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong
Refers to a patient who has a 10-fold increase in serum antibody after vaccination and infection is effective
As for whether the existing vaccines are still effective against Omicron, Yuan Guoyong mentioned that two Omicron patients who lived in the Regal Airport Hotel were both vaccinated with Fubital vaccine about half a year ago, but the serum antibody of one person immediately increased by more than 10 times after infection, reflecting the good injection. The cell memory response is good. Even in the face of multiple mutated new virus strains, the vaccine made from the original virus strain still effectively exerts a protective effect. Both of them have very mild symptoms and no serious complications. However, there are few cases and not enough representatives. sex.
Yuan Guoyong said that Omicron’s transmission and lethality take time to study. “Beta (with strong vaccine escape) has not swept the world. When Delta started in India, there was no nervousness at the beginning, but it eventually swept the world.” The team will copy The virus is also shared with laboratories that need to be researched and pharmaceutical companies that manufacture inactivated vaccines, but it is inconvenient to disclose whether Kexing and Sinopharm are involved. It is believed that inactivated vaccines can be modified like mRNA vaccines within three months.
Omicron's infectivity and lethality are unknown
When news of customs clearance between the two places has been spreading for a long time, a new virus strain Omicron with a lot of mutations has suddenly been killed, and its infectivity and lethality are unknown.
Yuan Guoyong mentioned that whether customs clearance depends on the number of confirmed cases in the two places, rather than being affected by the virus strain. However, he also mentioned that there is little knowledge about Omicron at present. It’s not suitable to loosen.” Buy an insurance policy and take a look at whether there is an explosion in Europe.” At present, it is difficult to determine whether to continue customs clearance. If Omicron's basic reproduction rate is as high as 10 to 20 like measles, it will question whether the current epidemic prevention measures are still effective.
He said that Hong Kong has basically eliminated the virus in the community in the past five months, proving that the epidemic prevention strategy has worked. It may be strict for a long time.” Singapore’s experience shows that 85% of people have been vaccinated with a second dose and used mRNA vaccines that produce high levels of antibodies. The outbreak is still serious. The death toll has risen from more than 200 people at the beginning of this year to more than 500 people, most of them. All the deceased are elderly people without injections, which will also put a heavy burden on the medical system.
The picture shows the immunofluorescence image detection of the NP protein of the Omicron variant virus.
The left is the uninfected group; the middle and the right are the 48-hour infected group.
(Information picture/provided by HKU)
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