December - 2021

Dec 25, 2021

Pasteur Network Course: Proteome Analysis by Mass Spectrometry Course 2022 - IP Montevideo, Uruguay

The Proteome Analysis by Mass Spectrometry Course, a Pasteur Network association funded course which had to be rescheduled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is expected to be held from March 21st to March 30th, 2022 in Montevideo. Course date: 21-30 March 2022 This course aims to train young scientists and graduate students on state-of-the-art proteomics technologies with special focus on bioinformatics analysis of large datasets. It also intends to promote the applications for t

Dec 16, 2021

Omicron variant can multiply 70 times faster than other strains in lower respiratory tracts of hosts

South China Morning Post reports Michael Chan and team findings and warns the overall threat could be ‘very significant’, although there could be lower infection severity. >>> Read South China Morning Post news

Dec 14, 2021

Malik Peiris finds Omicron significantly reduces virus neutralisation ability of BioNTech vaccine

A recent study jointly conducted by the LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) and the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine) has revealed that Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant, can significantly reduce the virus neutralisation ability of Pfizer BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine by 32 folds or more. A similar test of another vaccine used in Hong Kong, CoronaVac, is being conducted and the results will soon be available. How

Dec 8, 2021

Development of the world’s first stainless steel that kills the COVID19 virus within hours

Leo Poon and the Department of Mechanical Engineering (HKU) developed the world’s first stainless steel that kills the COVID19 virus within hours. The project team led by Professor Mingxin HUANG at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), in collaboration with Professor Leo Lit Man POON’s research team at the Centre for Immunity and Infection of HKU, has made significant breakthroughs in producing the first a

Dec 8, 2021

Probable Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Quarantine Hotel, Hong Kong, Nov-21

Leo Poon reports in Emerging Infectious Diseases the detection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in an asymptomatic, fully vaccinated traveler in a quarantine. The Omicron variant was also detected in a fully vaccinated traveler staying in a room across the corridor from the index patient, suggesting transmission despite strict quarantine precautions. >>> Read full publication on Emerging Infectious Diseases

Dec 8, 2021

Electron Microscope Image of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant

Prof Malik Peiris, Managing Director at C2i and Prof John Nicholls from the Department of Pathology at HKU have released an electron microscope image of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Left) Low magnification electron micrograph of a monkey kidney cell (Vero E6) after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant showing cell damage with swollen vesicles containing small black viral particles. (Right) High magnification electron micrograph of an infected Vero E6 cell showing

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