VARIANTS OF CORONA VIRUS Subject: Science & tech Concept: SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged independently in several countries, and the latest research indicates that the virus is changing quickly (mutation) and it may continue to develop towards evading currently available vaccines. SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for causing the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). SARS-CoV-2 variants from […]

    COVISHIELD vs COVAXIN Subject : Science & tech Concept : COVISHIELD It is the name given to an Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate which is technically referred to as AZD1222 or ChAdOx 1 nCoV19. It is a version of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with Swedish-British drugmaker AstraZeneca. Serum […]

    CLINICAL TRIAL MODE Subject : Science & tech Context : An expert panel Wednesday recommended the removal of the “clinical trial mode” label attached to the emergency authorisation of Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin. Concept : Authorisations granted to the Covid-19 vaccines in India so far do not allow for commercial sale — […]

    NISAR Subject : Science & tech Context : ISRO has completed development of a Synthetic Aperture Radar capable of producing high-resolution images for a joint earth observation satellite mission with the U.S. space agency NASA. Concept : NISAR stands for NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission It aims to study the hazards and […]

    VACCINE PASSPORT Subject: Science & tech Context: Israel became the first country to introduce a certification system that allows those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 to access certain facilities and events. Israel’s “vaccine passport” is meant for public facilities such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels in the country — but certification of […]

    CALM 2 MUTATIONS Subject: Science & tech Context : Folbigg, 53, was arrested in 2003 following a seven-week trial in which she was convicted of smothering her four children — Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Elizabeth — over a ten-year period during moments of frustration. The group of scientists and medical experts pushing for […]

    Bridging trial Subject: Science and Technology Context: The scientific community is divided in its opinion on the need for such a trial in current context of pandemic. Concept: A bridging trial performed in the new region to provide clinical data on efficacy, safety, dosage and dose regimen in the new region that will […]

    Covaxin shows 81% efficacy Subject: Science and Technology Context: Bharat Biotech reportedinterim clinical efficacy of 81% in the phase 3 clinical trial of its vaccine Covaxin. Concept: Covaxin is India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It is an inactivated […]

    Epigrap Subject: Science and technology Context: A new algorithm can potentially create a reactive influenza vaccine for swine flu, and offers a path toward a pan-influenza vaccine and possibly a pan-coronavirus vaccine as well. Context: Epigrap is an algorithm and has already been used to predict therapeutic HIV vaccine candidates, and it has […]