COVAXIN developed by Bharat Biotech and ICMR works against UK-variant

COVAXIN developed by Bharat Biotech and ICMR works against UK-variant

Covaxin, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech and ICMR has equivalent immunogenicity against the UK-variant & circulating strains of SARS-COV-2 in India. The Sera collected from Covaxin recipients (showing 99.6% seroconversion following vaccination) neutralised UK-variants. The UK variants of SARS-COV-2 with its all signature mutations were isolated and cultured for the first time in the world at ICMR-NIV, which was used for testing.

Vaccine shows potential against deadly leptospirosis bacteria

Scientists have designed a single-dose universal vaccine that could protect against the many forms of leptospirosis bacteria, according to a study published today in eLife. An effective vaccine would help prevent the life-threatening conditions caused by leptospirosis, such as Weil’s disease and lung haemorrhage, which are fatal in 10% and 50% of cases, respectively. Leptospirosis is caused by a diverse group of spirochetes called leptospires. “In this proof-of-concept study, we have shown that a universal leptospirosis vaccine candidate can prevent both death and kidney colonisation in animal models,” concludes author Albert Ko, Department Chair and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at Yale School of Public Health.

Protein anchors as a newly discovered key molecule in cancer spread and epilepsy

Certain anchor proteins inhibit a key metabolic driver that plays an important role in cancer and developmental brain disorders. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University of Innsbruck, together with a Europe-wide research network, discovered this molecular mechanism, which could open up new opportunities for personalized therapies for cancer and neuronal diseases. They published their results in the journal Cell. The signaling protein MTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is a sensor for nutrients such as amino acids and sugars. When sufficient nutrients are available, MTOR boosts metabolism and ensures that sufficient energy and cellular building blocks are available. Since MTOR is a central switch for metabolism, errors in its activation lead to serious diseases. Drugs that inhibit MTOR prevent this spread, the researchers were able to show in cell cultures.

Afternoon napping linked to better mental agility

Taking a regular afternoon nap may be linked to better mental agility, suggests research published in the online journal General Psychiatry. It seems to be associated with better locational awareness, verbal fluency, and working memory, the findings indicate. The Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) cognitive performance scores were significantly higher among the nappers than they were among those who didn’t nap. And there were significant differences in locational awareness, verbal fluency, and memory. Sleep regulates the body’s immune response and napping is thought to be an evolved response to inflammation; people with higher levels of inflammation also nap more often, explain the researchers.

New control mechanism in innate immune system

Although the protein ITIH4 is found in large amounts in the blood, its function has so far been unknown. By combining many different techniques, researchers from Aarhus University have discovered that ITIH4 inhibits proteases in the innate immune system via an unknown mechanism. The research results have just been published in the scientific journal Science Advances.