Health

A team of scientists has developed a new technology, platform for fluorometric detection of pathogens such as viruses by measurement of fluorescent light emitted. The potential of the new technology has been demonstrated for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. This technology platform can also be used to detect other DNA/RNA pathogens such as HIV, influenza, HCV, Zika, Ebola, bacteria, and other mutating/evolving pathogens.

With new variants of the SARS-COV-2 virus triggering fresh waves of the highly infectious disease, scientists at the Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneshwar have designed a peptide vaccine which they claim could protect against any future variants of the coronavirus.

A team of Indian Scientists in collaboration with an industry partner have developed a self-disinfecting ‘Copper-based Nanoparticle-coated Antiviral Face Mask to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The mask exhibits high performance against the COVID 19 virus as well as several other viral and bacterial infections, is biodegradable, highly breathable and washable.

According to provisional statistics, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has surpassed 167.29 Cr (1.67 billion) in the previous 24 hours, with more than 57 lakh (57,42,659) vaccine doses administered. This was accomplished by a total of 1,83,99,537 sessions.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday gave its permission to Bharat Biotech for conducting trials of intranasal booster doses against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The first dose of the Covid vaccine has been provided to 95% of India’s eligible adult population, with 74% fully vaccinated, the Union health ministry announced on Thursday, as the total vaccine doses administered surpassed 164.35 crores (1.64 billion). A total of 49,69,805 vaccination doses have been provided as of 7 p.m.

A team of scientists at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, have developed an indigenous RT PCR Kit for the specific detection of the Omicron variant in collaboration with their industrial partner, Biotech Desk Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad. The kit has been named INDICoV-OmTM.