Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 Variants Distributed to Research Institutions Starting Today

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The National Institute of Health's National Infectious Disease Research Institute's National Pathogen Resource Bank announced on the 11th that it will distribute four subvariants of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, including BA.4 and BA.5, to research institutions.

The variants available for distribution are one strain each of the Omicron subvariants BA.2.12, BA.2.3, BA.4, and BA.5.

Research institutions wishing to receive virus resources must verify facility standards according to the experiments they intend to conduct, then submit documents such as an official letter, pathogen resource distribution application, management and utilization plan, and proof of facility and equipment ownership through the National Pathogen Resource Bank website.

BA.4 and BA.5 are variants currently driving the recent resurgence of COVID-19, and health authorities have recently cited the spread of BA.5 as a cause of the resurgence.

These variants have mutations in the spike protein, which are known to enable them to evade antibodies produced by previous infections or vaccinations.

Kwon Jun-wook, director of the National Institute of Health, said, "We hope that the rapidly distributed Omicron variant strains will be actively utilized by related government agencies and health and medical industry organizations for the development of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tools."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.