The Russian State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology “Victor” published microscopic images of the “Omicron” mutant.
“The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in laboratory conditions infected a culture of” Vero E6″ cells of the Omicron mutant of the coronavirus to study its morphological properties, meaning the shape, size, presence of structures on the surface, etc., the Russian consumer protection agency Rospotrip Nadzor said in a statement. “.
It is noted that the cells were separated from the surface of special vials that they grew in on the sixth day after infection with the virus.
The agency’s statement added: “After preparing the sample, the cells were embedded in a mixture of epoxy resin. Very thin sections were created from these blocks so that the resulting samples would be transparent to an electron beam and could be viewed under an electron microscope. The images show the vesicle structures (vesicles), which are in Most cases are dilated tubules of the intracellular network, where the synthesis and transport of proteins, lipids and other substances necessary for cell life occurs.”
He explained that the proteins that make up the virus are synthesized in the cytoplasm, and later accumulate on the surface of these vesicles, and penetrate inside, according to certain physical and chemical conditions, and acquire an additional envelope.
The authority’s statement also indicated that “the membrane of the vesicles in the place where the viral particle is formed undergoes changes. The structural proteins of the virus are incorporated into it, which will later appear on its surface and determine its behavior when meeting another cell.”
The mutated Corona virus “Omicron” first appeared in South Africa last month, and began to appear in a number of countries, including Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain and Iran.
Big pharmaceutical companies are still looking at his data to determine whether they need to develop their own vaccines to combat it, or an entirely new vaccine for its resistance.