BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China.

COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINATION

A study by Chinese researchers has found that the COVID-19 booster vaccination can markedly reduce the immune escape of the Omicron variant, underscoring the necessity for the eligible population to get a third booster jab to combat the pandemic.

The researchers from Fudan University and Pigentech Lab revealed that sera from individuals vaccinated with two doses of an inactivated whole-virion vaccine show weak to no neutralization efficacy.

However, the boosters, either homologous or heterologous ones, can markedly improve neutralization titers against all Omicron sub-lineages, according to the study published recently in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.

SMART CONTACT LENS

Chinese scientists have developed a smart contact lens that can automatically dispense medication to treat glaucoma, an eye disorder that can cause blindness.

Scientists from Sun Yat-sen University designed the wireless, battery-free contact lens that monitors pressure within the eyeball before making an on-demand, controlled-release of an anti-glaucoma drug.

The gadget utilizes a highly-compact, double-layer structural design that integrates the electrical circuits into its curved and limited surface without blocking the user's vision, according to the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

NEW GENE TO BOOST WHEAT YIELD

Chinese scientists have found a new gene that can boost the yield of wheat by improving the crop's drought tolerance and nitrogen-use efficacy, according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

Drought and nitrogen deficiency are the major limiting factors affecting the global wheat yield, according to Ma Youzhi from the CAAS.

The findings have the potential to contribute to global food security by improving the drought tolerance and nitrogen-use efficacy of cereal crops, per the study recently published in the journal Plant Biotechnology Journal.