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First in Asia: Omicron variant successfully isolated by HKU research team

Hong Kong researchers have succeeded in isolating Omicron variant from clinical specimens the University of Hong Kong (HKU) announced on Tuesday (Nov. 30). (HKU)

Hong Kong researchers have succeeded in isolating Omicron variant from clinical specimens which will help in developing vaccines against the new COVID-19 strain, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) announced on Tuesday (Nov. 30).

This is the first known research team in Asia that has succeeded in isolating the Omicron variant. The isolated variant will enable the development and production of vaccines against Omicron, which has been designated as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The research team is now working on expanding the virus for use in assessing its transmissibility, immune evasion capability, and pathogenicity in animal models. The team is also exploring opportunities for urgent development and production of inactivated whole virus vaccines.

The HKU team succeeded in isolating the variant late Monday, four days after the first two Omicron cases were confirmed in Hong Kong on Nov. 25 , and five days after the variant was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on Nov. 24.

WHO designated the variant, initially identified as B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, and named it Omicron on 26 November. Cases of the Omicron variant have since been reported from around the world in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and Canada, as governments impose urgent travel bans and heightened surveillance.

"We recognize the serious threats of the variant and jumped into action immediately," said Chair of Infectious Diseases Professor Kwok-yung Yuen, who led the research effort. "Isolating the variant is the first step in the urgent study of the variant."

Other leaders of the research team include Professor Honglin Chen and Dr. Kelvin To, Head of the Department of Microbiology.

"We are glad that our department is contributing to the global effort to fight the pandemic amid the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, " said Dr. To.

Virus isolation and incubation were conducted at the biosafety level 3 laboratory (P3 laboratory) of the University of Hong Kong, following standard operating procedures. HKU currently has the only P3 laboratory in Hong Kong.

The microbiology team is now working to further isolate and purify the variant virus for inactivated whole virus vaccine production.

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