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Subject: Biotech and Medical Sciences

  • West Nile Virus

    Why in news?

    Ukraine is currently dealing with a serious outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV), with health officials raising alarms as the death toll rises.

    About West Nile Virus

    Details
    Virus Type Member of the flavivirus genus, family Flaviviridae
    First Isolated 1937 in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda
    Geographical Distribution Commonly found in Africa, Europe, Middle East, North America, and West Asia
    Transmission Primarily transmitted through infected mosquito bites; mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds. Can also spread through infected animal tissues.
    Symptoms – Asymptomatic: ~80% of infected individuals show no symptoms
    – West Nile Fever: ~20% develop symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and occasional skin rash.
    Peak Infection Period Typically spikes between June and September (summer to autumn)
    Reported Outbreaks 19 countries have reported outbreaks, including Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, and Kosovo.
    Treatment No vaccine available; supportive treatments provided for neuroinvasive WNV patients

     

    PYQ:

    [2017] Consider the following statements:

    1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.

    2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)

    Why in the News?

    The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the highest statutory body on technical drug-related matters in India, has recommended including all antibiotics under the definition of ‘New Drugs’ in the New Drugs and Clinical Trial (NDCT) Rules, 2019.

    What are ‘New Drugs’?

    • According to Rule 122 E of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, a new drug is one that:
      • Has not been used in the country.
      • Has not been recognized as effective and safe by the licensing authority.
      • May also be an already approved drug with modified claims such as new indications, dosages, or routes of administration.

    Implications of Including Antibiotics in the New Drug Category:

    • If antibiotics are classified as new drugs:
      • Their manufacturing, marketing, and sale will be documented.
      • Clearance for manufacturing and marketing will need to be obtained from the Central government instead of State drug administrations.
      • Antibiotics will only be sold to patients on prescription.

    Additional Recommendations:

    • The board is considering amending the labelling rules under the Drugs Rules, 1945, by adding a blue strip or box for antimicrobial products.
    • It has recommended that antimicrobials should not be sold to non-pharmaceutical industries unless they have the necessary licences.

    About the Drugs Technical Advisory Board:

    Details
    Authority Highest statutory decision-making body on technical matters related to drugs in India
    Establishment Constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
    Affiliation Part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
    Nodal Ministry Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
    Functions – Advises the Central and State Governments on technical matters related to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act
    – Carries out functions assigned by the Act
    Role of CDSCO – Approval of drugs
    – Conduct of clinical trials
    – Establishing standards for drugs
    – Quality control of imported drugs
    – Coordination with State Drug Control Organizations
    Specialized Licenses Responsible for granting licenses for critical categories of drugs, including blood products, IV fluids, vaccines, and sera
    Decision-Making Provides expert advice and technical recommendations to ensure drug safety, efficacy, and quality

     

    PYQ:

    [2019] Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?

    1. Genetic predisposition of some people
    2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
    3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
    4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 and 2
    (b) 2 and 3 only
    (c) 1, 3 and 4
    (d) 2, 3 and 4

  • Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Bacteria

    Why in the News?

    • Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), many existing antibiotics are becoming less effective.
      • As a result, researchers are studying Mtb to identify key proteins and design new drugs to target them.

    What is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)?

    • Mtb is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), affecting the lungs and sometimes spreading to other organs.
    • It spreads through airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing by an infected person.
    • Mtb can remain dormant in the body for years without causing active disease.
    • It infects macrophages, immune cells designed to destroy invaders, but instead, Mtb survives and multiplies inside them.

    What do various studies say?

    • A 2024 CSIR-CCMB study showed that Mtb uses cysteine synthase enzymes to survive oxidative stress.
    • A 2017 Karolinska Institute study identified 71 compounds that inhibit these enzymes, improving the effectiveness of antibiotics like isoniazid.
    • Researchers found that Mtb’s ability to evade the immune system is due to its long evolution with humans.
    • Other studies focus on Mtb’s phosphate and carbon metabolism, critical for its survival in hostile environments.
    • Ways for effective medicine development:
      • Target enzymes like CysK2 and CysM to weaken Mtb’s defence mechanisms.
      • Study Mtb’s metabolic pathways to identify vulnerabilities for new drug development.
      • Explore how Mtb develops antibiotic resistance and find ways to overcome it.
      • Investigate how Mtb evades immune responses by manipulating immune cells.
      • Combine new inhibitors with existing antibiotics to enhance treatment efficacy.

    PYQ:

    [2014] Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.

  • Why precision medicine in India can’t advance without biobank laws?

    Why in the News?

    Precision medicine is ushering in a new era of personalized healthcare, with its foundations taking shape during the completion of the Human Genome Project by scientists.

    What is the current legal framework governing biobanks in India?

    • Lack of Comprehensive Legislation: India lacks specific, comprehensive laws governing biobanks. The current framework consists of guidelines rather than enforceable laws, creating gaps in the regulation of biobanking practices.
    • National Ethical Guidelines by ICMR: The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has issued guidelines on ethical practices in biomedical research involving human participants. However, these guidelines are not legally binding and do not address all aspects of biobanking, such as long-term storage and data sharing.
    • Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Standards: The DBT has certain practices in place for data storage and analysis, but these also lack enforceability and do not fully cover issues such as informed consent and privacy.
    • Absence of a Single Regulatory Authority: India currently does not have a dedicated regulatory authority to oversee biobanks, which leads to inconsistencies and limited oversight in biobanking activities.

    How do privacy concerns impact biobank operations and precision medicine?

    • Informed Consent Issues: Participants often give consent without detailed information about how their biological samples and associated data will be used, who will have access, and for how long. This lack of transparency raises privacy concerns.
    • Genetic Data Privacy Risks: Genetic information can reveal intimate details about an individual’s health and predisposition to diseases, potentially affecting their family members. If data privacy is not robustly protected, it may lead to genetic discrimination in insurance or employment.
    • Data Sharing Without Proper Regulation: In the absence of clear legal provisions, data or samples could be shared without proper consent, risking misuse by pharmaceutical companies or research organizations, including foreign entities.
    • Impact on Public Trust: Weak data and privacy protections may reduce public willingness to participate in biobank projects, thus limiting the scale and diversity necessary for effective precision medicine research.

    What are the ethical implications of biobanking practices in India?

    • Ownership and Benefit Sharing: Without legal protections, there is ambiguity regarding the ownership of biological samples. Individuals contributing samples may not receive benefits from commercial applications resulting from their data, raising ethical concerns about fair compensation.
    • Consent Transparency: Participants may not fully understand the scope of their consent, especially regarding future uses of their samples and data. This lack of clarity can be considered ethically problematic, as it may involve the exploitation of participants’ contributions.
    • Risk of Misuse or Mismanagement: Inconsistent regulations and the absence of penalties for ethical violations create a risk of mishandling samples, unauthorized data access, and exploitation, which may compromise research integrity.
    • Discrimination Risks: Genetic information obtained from biobanks could be used to discriminate against individuals based on their health risks or genetic traits, which raises concerns about ethical and legal safeguards.

    Way forward: 

    • Establish Comprehensive Legislation: Develop and implement a comprehensive legal framework specifically governing biobanks, including clear guidelines on informed consent, data protection, ownership rights, and benefit sharing.
    • Create a Regulatory Authority: Establish a dedicated regulatory authority to oversee biobank operations, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and legal requirements.

  • Issues in the treatment of ‘rare diseases’, and what the govt can do?

    Why in the News?

    The Delhi High Court recently issued directives to enhance the availability of “orphan drugs” to combat rare diseases.

    About the Delhi High Court Verdict:

    • The Delhi High Court issued directions aimed at improving the availability of “orphan drugs,” which are used to treat rare diseases.
    • This intervention seeks to address challenges related to the high cost of these treatments and the barriers to access for patients with rare diseases in India.

    Rare Diseases in India and Their Classification:

    • Definition: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rare diseases are debilitating, lifelong conditions that affect 1 or fewer individuals in 1,000.
    • Conditions Recognized as Rare Diseases in India: Approximately 55 conditions, including Gaucher’s disease, Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs), and certain muscular dystrophies, are classified as rare diseases.
    • National Registry: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) manages the National Registry for Rare and Other Inherited Disorders (NRROID), which has documented 14,472 patients with rare diseases.

    Classification of Rare Diseases in India:

    • Group 1: Diseases that can be treated with a one-time curative procedure (e.g., certain enzyme replacement therapies).
    • Group 2: Conditions requiring long-term or lifelong treatment, which are relatively less expensive and have documented benefits. Regular medical check-ups are necessary for patients.
    • Group 3: Diseases for which effective treatments are available, but they are highly costly and require ongoing, lifelong therapy. Selecting beneficiaries for these treatments presents a challenge due to the high costs.

    Current Funding Policy in India:

    • National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) 2021: Launched to provide financial support for the treatment of rare diseases. Patients receiving treatment at designated Centres of Excellence (CoE) can get financial assistance up to Rs 50 lakh.
    • Centres of Excellence: The CoEs include institutions such as AIIMS in Delhi, PGIMER in Chandigarh, and the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research at Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital.
    • Crowdfunding and Voluntary Donations Portal (2022): The Health Ministry launched a digital platform that allows donors to contribute toward the treatment of rare disease patients at CoEs. The portal provides details about patients, their conditions, estimated treatment costs, and bank account information of the CoEs.
     

    Did you know?

    • Murine Typhus (a rare disease) is a flea-borne bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi, transmitted through infected flea bites, primarily from rodents and not contagious between humans.
    • A 75-year-old man from Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram was recently diagnosed with Murine Typhus after travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia.

    Challenges Associated with Orphan Drugs:

    • Limited Treatment Options: Therapies are available for fewer than 5% of rare diseases, resulting in less than 10% of patients receiving disease-specific treatment.
    • High Treatment Costs: Many existing therapies for rare diseases are prohibitively expensive, putting a significant financial burden on patients and their families.
    • Regulatory Delays: Approval processes, such as those from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), can be slow. For instance, delays in approving US-based Sarepta Therapeutics’ medicines in India have affected the timely availability of treatments.
    • Bureaucratic Hurdles: Decision-making delays and administrative red tape further complicate access to necessary drugs, impacting patient care.
    • Challenges in Beneficiary Selection: Due to high treatment costs, identifying and prioritizing beneficiaries for financial assistance is difficult, potentially leaving some patients without support.

    Way forward: 

    • Streamline Regulatory Approvals: Expedite the approval process for orphan drugs by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and establishing a fast-track mechanism for essential treatments, ensuring timely access to life-saving medications.
    • Increase Financial Support and Expand Coverage: Enhance the funding cap under the National Policy for Rare Diseases and extend financial assistance to more patients, while encouraging public-private partnerships and innovative funding mechanisms like insurance coverage for rare disease treatments.

  • What are Synthetic Medical Images?

    Synthetic medical images are AI-generated images created without using traditional imaging devices like MRI, CT scans, or X-rays.

    Why in the News?

    As we consider how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming various fields, one emerging area is the use of synthetic medical images in healthcare.

    What are Synthetic Medical Images?

    • Synthetic medical images are AI-generated images created without using traditional imaging devices like MRI, CT scans, or X-rays.
    • These images are constructed using mathematical models or AI techniques, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), diffusion models, and autoencoders.

    Advantages offered

    • Intra- and Inter-Modality Translation: Generate images from the same or different types of scans, helping when certain scans are unavailable.
    • Privacy Protection: Created without patient data, reducing privacy concerns and easing data sharing for research.
    • Cost and Time Efficiency: Synthetic images are quicker and cheaper to generate compared to real medical scans.
    • Scalability: Easier to produce large volumes of medical data for AI training and research.

    Challenges posed

    • Potential for Misuse: Could be used to create medical deepfakes, leading to fraudulent claims or fake clinical findings.
    • Lack of Real-World Complexity: May not capture subtle details found in real medical data, potentially lowering diagnostic accuracy.
    • Truth Erosion: Relying too heavily on synthetic data may distort AI models, leading to diagnoses that don’t align with real-world cases.
    • Ethical and Regulatory Concerns: Questions around how these images should be controlled and monitored to avoid misuse.

    PYQ:

    [2020] With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?

    1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
    2. Create meaningful short stories and songs
    3. Disease diagnosis
    4. Text-to-Speech Conversion
    5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

    (b) 1, 3 and 4 only

    (c) 2, 4 and 5 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

  • [pib] WHO declares that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem in 2024

    Why in the News?

    • The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that India has successfully eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem.
      • This makes India the third country in the Southeast Asia Region to achieve this milestone.
    • WHO has classified Trachoma as a neglected tropical disease (NTD).
    • WHO estimates that around 150 million people worldwide are affected by Trachoma, and 6 million of them are either blind or at risk of severe visual problems.
    • Trachoma is commonly found in underprivileged communities living in poor conditions.

    What is Trachoma?

    • Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes.
    • It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis.
    • It is contagious, spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, or secretions from the nose or throat of an infected person.
    • If untreated, Trachoma can lead to irreversible blindness.

    Trachoma in India: A Historical Perspective

    • In the 1950s and 1960s, Trachoma was one of the leading causes of blindness in India.
    • To tackle this, India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963.
    • Later, these efforts were integrated into India’s National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB).
      • In 1971, the rate of blindness due to trachoma was 5% in the country.
      • Due to various interventions under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), the rate has now dropped to less than 1%.

    What are the key measures taken to eliminate Trachoma?

    • India implemented the WHO SAFE strategy across the country. This strategy includes:
    1. Surgery
    2. Antibiotics
    3. Facial hygiene
    4. Environmental cleanliness
    • Although by 2017, India was declared free from infective Trachoma, it continued surveillance of Trachoma cases from 2019 to 2024.

    PYQ:

    [2018] Appropriate local community-level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain.

  • What is the Marburg Virus?

    Why in the News?

    Rwanda has reported a Marburg virus outbreak with several confirmed cases and deaths, making it a country of concern for public health.

    About the Marburg Virus

    • The Marburg virus is a highly dangerous virus that causes Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), also known as Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever.
    • It belongs to the same family of viruses as Ebola (the filovirus family).
    • MVD has a case fatality rate that can range from 24% to 88%, depending on the virus strain and how cases are managed.
    • The virus was first identified in 1967 during simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany.

    How does it spread?

    • The Marburg virus initially spreads from animals to humans, primarily through exposure to Rousettus bats, particularly the Egyptian fruit bat, found in caves or mines.
    • Once a person is infected, it can spread from human to human through:
      • Direct contact with the blood, and bodily fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, vomit, feces, breast milk, and semen) of an infected person.
      • Indirect contact with surfaces or objects like bedding or clothing that have been contaminated with these fluids.
      • Medical workers are often at risk, especially during outbreaks, due to contact with patients when proper infection control practices are not followed.
      • The virus does NOT spread through the air like the common cold or flu.

    Symptoms and Treatment

    • Symptoms typically begin between 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.
    • Early symptoms are: High fever, severe headache, Muscle aches, Chills, Severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting. 
    • As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms may develop, including: Bleeding (both internal and external) ex—blood in vomit and faeces.
    • Patients often die 8 to 9 days after the onset of symptoms, primarily from severe blood loss and multiple organ failure.
    • Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for MVD.  However, supportive care can improve the chances of survival.
    • Supportive treatment includes:
      • Rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
      • Treatment of specific symptoms like fever, pain, and diarrhoea.
      • Blood transfusions and oxygen therapy may be required for severe cases.

    PYQ:

    [2015] Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently?

    (a) Syria and Jordan

    (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia

    (c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea

    (d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam

  • [pib] Combination Therapeutic Clotting Implant

    Why in the News?

    Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, in collaboration with other researchers have developed the Combination Therapeutic Clotting Implant.

    What is the Combination Therapeutic Clotting Implant?

    • It is a hybrid implant made of metal-based nano-medicine combined with patient-derived blood clotting components.
    • It is designed to reduce localized tumor recurrence after surgery.
    • It uses nanotechnology and autologous fibrin (derived from the patient’s own blood) to enhance post-surgical cancer treatment by providing localized therapy and promoting healing in the tumor bed.

    How does It Work?

    • The implant is created using Nano-Micro-Sera (NMS), which consists of drug and metal-based nanomedicine stabilized by the patient’s own serum protein corona.
    • The hybrid implant is reinforced into autologous fibrin, which quickly bonds with damaged tissue in the tumor bed after surgery.
    • Once the surgical site is closed, the implant delivers localized chemo-phototherapy, triggering immunogenic cell death (ICD).
    • This process activates dendritic cells and T-cells, which boosts the body’s immune response and prevents the recurrence of tumors.

    Significance of the Implant

    • The implant offers an affordable and effective solution for localized post-surgical cancer management, especially for marginalized patients.
    • By using the patient’s own serum proteins and fibrin, the implant ensures personalized treatment, reducing the risk of systemic toxicity.
    • The implant’s design is resource-efficient, making it accessible for bedside fabrication with simple equipment, ensuring wider availability.
    • It has demonstrated superior outcomes in suppressing recurrent breast tumors, and its use could prevent tumor recurrence and reducing the chances of metastasis.

    PYQ:

    [2015] With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology.

    2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • [pib] World Cerebral Palsy Day

    Why in the News?

    • The World Cerebral Palsy Day was celebrated on October 6 with the theme ‘#UniquelyCP’.
      • It celebrates the uniqueness of individuals living with cerebral palsy by emphasizing that they are not defined by their disability.

    About Cerebral Palsy:

    Details
    Condition A group of neurological disorders affecting movement, muscle tone, and posture.
    Cause Abnormal brain development, usually before birth; can also occur due to injury during birth or early childhood.
    Types – Spastic CP: Stiff muscles, difficulty with movement (most common, 70-80% of cases).
    – Dyskinetic CP: Uncontrolled movements affecting limbs.
    – Ataxic CP: Poor balance and coordination.
    – Mixed CP: Combination of symptoms from different types.
    Symptoms Motor skill difficulties (crawling, walking); Muscle stiffness or looseness; Poor coordination and balance; Speech or swallowing difficulties; Seizures in some cases.
    Diagnosis Physical examination, MRI scans, developmental monitoring (usually diagnosed within first 2 years).
    Risk Factors Premature birth; Low birth weight; Multiple births; Maternal infections; Lack of oxygen during birth.
    Treatment – Physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
    – Medications to reduce muscle stiffness.
    – Surgery in severe cases.
    Life Expectancy Normal life expectancy in many cases, depending on severity and associated complications.
    Prevention Some causes are preventable with proper maternal care, but many are not.
    Policy Support Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme:

    • Coverage: Up to ₹1,00,000/- for treatments, surgeries, and therapies for persons with disabilities.
    • Eligibility: Covers individuals with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, and Multiple Disabilities.
    • Annual Renewal: Requires yearly renewal with different fees for BPL and APL categories.
    • Easy Application: Enrollment and claims processed online via Registered Organizations (ROs).

     

    PYQ:

    [2020] In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss.