Over 60 envoys to visit biotech companies in Hyderabad developing COVID-19 vaccine

New Delhi [India]: More than 60 foreign heads of missions will on Wednesday visit leading biotech companies in Hyderabad – Bharat Biotech and Biological E – which are developing vaccines against the novel coronavirus, sources said.

They said that this is the first such visit and it will be followed by visits to facilities in other cities. It is in continuation of COVID-19 briefing by Ministry of External Affairs on November 6.

India is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer and has been contributing significantly to global efforts against COVID 19 pandemic.

Sources said there is a lot of interest in India’s vaccine development efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis.
He visited the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune on November 28 to conduct an extensive review of the vaccine development and manufacturing process.

On November 30, he had virtual meetings with teams from Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd Pune, Biological E Ltd Hyderabad and Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd Hyderabad. The three teams are working on developing and manufacturing vaccine for COVID-19.

Bharat Biotech had on Monday applied for emergency use authorisation for its indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

It is the second Indian company to apply for emergency use authorisation after the Serum Institute of India applied for such use for the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

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The researchers of the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering claimed to have developed an ultrasensitive test using a paper-based electrochemical sensor that is capable of detecting the presence of the coronavirus in mere five minutes.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, the researchers from various laboratories have been coming up with the different strategies that can help to track the virus. The new study shows the possibility of detecting the virus through a rapid method with the use of a graphene biosensor which is adaptable to other viruses.

A team led by professor Dipanjan Pan reported their findings in ACS Nano which shows that a bioengineering graduate student, Maha Alafeef from the University of Illinois Grainger has co-developed a rapid, ultrasensitive test using a paper-based electrochemical sensor that can detect the presence of the virus in less than five minutes.

“Currently, we are experiencing a once-in-a-century life-changing event. We are responding to this global need from a holistic approach by developing multidisciplinary tools for early detection and diagnosis and treatment for SARS-CoV-2,” said Alafeef.

The two broad categories of Covid-19 tests in the market either use reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleic acid hybridization strategies to identify viral RNA, or focuses on the detection of antibodies. However, there could be a delay of a few days to a few weeks after a person has been exposed to the virus for them to produce detectable antibodies.

In recent years, researchers have had some success with creating point-of-care biosensors using 2D nanomaterials such as graphene to detect diseases. The main advantages of graphene-based biosensors are their sensitivity, low cost of production, and rapid detection turnaround.
“The discovery of graphene opened up a new era of sensor development due to its properties.

Graphene exhibits unique mechanical and electrochemical properties that make it ideal for the development of sensitive electrochemical sensors” said Alafeef.
There are two components to this biosensor, according to the study which is: a platform to measure an electrical read-out and probes to detect the presence of viral RNA.

To create the platform, researchers first coated filter paper with a layer of graphene nanoplatelets to create a conductive film. Then, they placed a gold electrode with a predefined design on top of the graphene as a contact pad for electrical readout. Both gold and graphene have high sensitivity and conductivity which makes this platform ultrasensitive to detect changes in electrical signals.

Current RNA-based Covid-19 tests screen for the presence of the N-gene (nucleocapsid phosphoprotein) on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this research, the team designed antisense oligonucleotide (ASOs) probes to target two regions of the N-gene. Targeting two regions ensures the reliability of the senor in case one region undergoes gene mutation. Furthermore, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are capped with these single-stranded nucleic acids (ssDNA), which represents an ultra-sensitive sensing probe for the SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

The researchers showed that the hybridization of the viral RNA with these probes causes a change in the sensor electrical response. The AuNP caps accelerate the electron transfer and when broadcasted over the sensing platform, results in an increase in the output signal and indicates the presence of the virus.

The team tested the performance of this sensor by using Covid-19 positive and negative samples. The sensor showed a significant increase in the voltage of positive samples compared to the negative ones and confirmed the presence of viral genetic material in less than five minutes.

Furthermore, the sensor was able to differentiate viral RNA loads in these samples. “Viral load is an important quantitative indicator of the progress of infection and a challenge to measure using existing diagnostic methods”, stated the researchers.

Not only this, but this platform has far-reaching applications due to its portability and low cost. The sensor, when integrated with microcontrollers and LED screens or with a smartphone via Bluetooth or wifi, could be used at the point-of-care in a doctor’s office or even at home.

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Tech giant Google and Samsung are bringing their smart home platforms together for the first time. Samsung SmartThings to help control Google Nest devices starting in January 2021.

According to The Verge, this will build a bridge between one of the industry’s leading ecosystems for managing smart devices like cameras and thermostats with one of the leading companies developing those products. Prior to this, owners of devices that qualified for the ‘Works With SmartThings’ (WWST) certification had to use separate software to manage any Google Nest products they owned.

Following the launch of the integration next month, all Nest products will be controllable from the SmartThings platform and will qualify as WWST devices.

As per The Verge, the partnership further boosts Samsung’s smart home platform, which is one of the leading hub makers for managing smart home devices on the same network. Samsung purchased SmartThings in 2014 for USD 200 million due to the company’s proficiency at helping smart home products communicate across various protocol standards.

Samsung says its new Google partnership means Nest devices can be incorporated into ‘SmartThings Scenes’ for setting up automated controls for multiple devices at the same time, and the integration will also mean Samsung TVs and its Family Hub fridge will support streaming from Nest cameras and other devices.

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On this day in 2014: Kohli led India first time in a Test match, Kohli made his longest format captaincy debut against Australia at Adelaide Oval in the first game of the four-match Test series.

India suffered a 48-run loss in that match and they were chasing 364 and looked to be on course with Murali Vijay and Kohli batting well at one stage. The visitors were cruising but Nathan Lyon provided Australia the crucial breakthrough, dismissing Vijay for 99. After that, the Australian off-spinner simply ripped through the Indian batting line-up, picking 7/152. From being 242/3, India was dismissed for 315.

The match was also the debut for leg-spinner Karn Sharma and remains the only Test match he played.
Kohli scored a ton in both the innings, but David Warner, Michael Clarke, and Steve Smith was among the runs for the Aussies.

India lost the series 2-0 after losing the first two games. However, Kohli only led the country in the first and last match of the series.
This was the series in which MS Dhoni announced his retirement from the longest format of the game after the third Test against Australia in Melbourne.

Kohli has so far led India in 55 Tests just five short of equalling MS Dhoni’s record, who captained the side in 60 red-ball games, the most by any Indian skipper.

Kohli is also the most successful captain for India in the history of the game as the team won 33 games under his captaincy so far.
Last year in September, Kohli surpassed Dhoni to become the most successful Indian Test captain.

After winning the shortest format series 2-1, India will now lock horns in the four-match Test series against Australia which gets underway on December 17. The first match will be a day-night affair and Kohli will head back home after the first Test as he has been granted paternity leave by the BCCI.

Rohit Sharma’s availability for the Test series is also not clear as his fitness will be reassessed on December 11 at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru

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Meeting with a joint delegation of opposition parties to be held on Wednesday regarding the recently promulgated Central farm laws

Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India]: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday said, he does not have any hope from President Ram Nath Kovind ahead of his meeting with a joint delegation of opposition parties to be held on Wednesday regarding the recently promulgated Central farm laws.

“A delegation of 24 political parties is going to meet the President today regarding the anti-farmer laws. I don’t have any hope from his majesty. These 24 political parties should also discuss with all the groups under NDA who are with the farmers. Nitishji should mount pressure on Modiji,” Singh tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi). Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said a joint delegation of opposition parties which will include Congress, CPI, DMK apart from his party will meet President Ram Nath Kovind today regarding the recently promulgated central farm laws.

“A joint delegation of Opposition parties will meet President Kovind on December 9 at 5 pm. The delegation will include Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, a DMK leader and a CPI leader and others”

“Rashtrapati Bhawan has said that due to COVID-19 protocol, not more than five leaders are allowed to meet the President. We have asked for relaxation in the norms for all the representatives of the 11 signatories on the letter against these laws,” he added.

Meanwhile, Digvijaya Singh had yesterday slammed RSS while opposing the agricultural law, saying that RSS is not a registered organisation neither they have any membership, however, it is the most powerful organisation without any accountability.

“Why are they silent today? We want to ask Mohan Bhagwat if Modiji is not listening to the farmers’ union and farmers, then the Sangh should stop supporting Modiji. BJP is looting the country, all they care about is triple talaq, love-jihad, NCR,” said Singh. 

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Cristiano Ronaldo won the battle against Lionel Messi as Juventus defeated Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League group-stage encounter here at the Camp Nou on Tuesday (local time)

With this win, Juventus moved to the top of Group G in the Champions League with 15 points from six matches, while Barcelona had to settle for the second spot with 15 points from six matches. Both the teams have progressed to the last-16 of the tournament, but Barcelona’s road to the quarter-finals has been hardened as they will face another Group winner in the knockout stages of the tournament.

When these two teams had met earlier in the Champions League, Barcelona defeated Juventus 2-0 in the absence of Ronaldo. However, this time, Juventus were able to change their fortunes.

In the match on Tuesday (local time), Ronaldo scored two goals for Juventus and Weston McKennie registered one goal as the visitors thrashed Barcelona 3-0.

Ronaldo was clashing against Messi for the first time as a Juventus player. He scored the first goal of the match in the 13th minute after being handed a generous penalty. Seven minutes later, McKennie doubled Juventus’ lead and Barcelona was left shell-shocked, to be 2-0 down in the 20th minute.

The hosts were given another blow in the second half as another penalty was awarded to Juventus after an intervention from Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Ronaldo did not miss the chance of converting the opportunity, and as a result, Juventus went 3-0 ahead.
In the end, Juventus walked away with a comfortable victory.

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Several borders between Delhi and neighbouring states remained closed for commuters due to farmer’s protest

New Delhi [India]: With the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three newly enacted farm laws entering the 14th day, traffic near the borders of the national capital remained affected as several borders between Delhi and neighbouring states remained closed for commuters.

Delhi Traffic Police on Wednesday appealed to citizens to take alternative routes due to Singhu and other borders like Auchandi, Piao Maniyari, Mangesh have been closed for all kinds of traffic movement. The National Highway (NH)-44 is closed from both sides. Commuters are advised to take alternative routes via Lampur, Safiabad, Saboli, NH8/Bhopra /Apsara borders /Peripheral expressway. The police said that traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road, and asked the commuters to avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road, and NH-44.

With farmers firm on their demand about the repealing of the three agriculture laws, their protest entered the 14th day on Wednesday with demonstrations continuing on Sant Nirankari Samagam ground in Burari on the outskirts of Delhi and at other borders.

The sixth round of talks which was scheduled for today was cancelled after a small delegation of farmers met the Union Ministers Amit Shah, Narendra Singh Tomar, and Piyush Goyal on Tuesday.

After the meeting, Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) described the meeting with Union Ministers as ‘positive’ and said that the government would give a draft to the farm leaders today, which would be discussed by the rest of the group.

“We have not yet received a date for another meeting. The protest will continue,” he added.

The farmers are protesting against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

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