Bharat Biotech, Alopexx to collaborate for anti-microbial vaccine AV0328

News:

• Hyderabad-based vaccine maker Bharat Biotech and clinical-stage U.S. biotechnology firm Alopexx Inc. will collaborate to co-develop and commercialise anti-microbial vaccine AV0328 in India and other low income and lower middle-income countries.

About AV0328:

• A proprietary broad-spectrum anti-microbial vaccine candidate of Alopexx, AV0328 is a synthetic vaccine designed to target poly N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG) found on the surface of a wide range of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens.
• Pre-clinical studies targeting PNAG showed effectiveness in preventing and treating infections caused by over 15 different pathogens.
• A phase I, first-in-human trial has been completed; demonstrating AV0328 is well-tolerated with no serious adverse events observed.
• The vaccine induced antibodies are capable of killing a wide range of PNAG-expressing pathogens, reaffirming its potential as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial solution.
• Bharat Biotech said AV0328 is an early stage product development.
• It will go through the regulatory approval process in India and several other countries.
• “Our goal is to develop solutions to reduce anti-microbial resistance through vaccination”-Bharat Biotech
• Collaborations like this brings world one step closer to addressing the critical need for affordable, broad-spectrum antimicrobial solutions, especially in low-and middle-income countries.

Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR):

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.
• AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
• As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.
• The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
• Priorities to address AMR in human health include:
• Preventing all infections, which may result in inappropriate use of antimicrobials
• Ensuring universal access to quality diagnosis and appropriate treatment of infections
• Strategic information and innovation, for example surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial consumption/use, and research and development for novel vaccines, diagnostics and medicines.

Antimicrobials:

• Including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics – are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants.
• Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.

Super typhoon Yagi

Context:

• Super typhoon Yagi, Asia’s strongest storm this year, hit China’s Hainan on September 6, triggering incessant rain and strong winds of 234 km per hour.
• The calamity caused widespread power outages, leaving residents to struggle to make ends meet.

About Super typhoon Yagi:

• It was a powerful and destructive tropical cyclone which impacted the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, in early September 2024.
• It is the first violent typhoon and the first Category 5 storm of the annual typhoon season.
• It is one of the only four Category 5 super typhoons recorded in the South China Sea, alongside Pamela in 1954, Rammasun in 2014 and Rai in 2021.
• Yagi originated from a low-pressure area that formed on August 30, approximately 540 km northwest of Palau.
• It was named Yagi by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

About Typhoon:

• It is a tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere and which produces sustained hurricane-force winds of at least 119 km/h.
• This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, accounting for almost one third of the world’s tropical cyclones.
• Like any tropical cyclone, there are several main requirements for typhoon formation and development.
• It must be in sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures, atmospheric instability, high humidity in the lower-to-middle levels of the troposphere, have enough Coriolis effect to develop a low pressure centre, a pre-existing low level focus or disturbance, and a low vertical wind shear.
• The Philippines receive the brunt of the landfalls, with China and Japan being less often impacted.
• However, some of the deadliest typhoons in history have struck China.
• Pacific typhoons have formed year-round, with peak months from August to October.
• The area just northeast of the Philippines is the most active place on Earth for tropical cyclones to exist.

India hosts 12th review meeting of Greater Male Connectivity Project

News:

• The review meeting focused on the substantial progress achieved in the Greater Male Connectivity Project, a major initiative aimed at improving infrastructure and connectivity in the Maldives.
• This meeting marks the first time the review has been held in India, highlighting the strong commitment to the flagship development cooperation project between India and the Maldives.
• The Greater Male Connectivity Project is a cornerstone of the bilateral development cooperation between India and the Maldives, reflecting the close ties and collaborative efforts between the two nations.
• The discussions on accelerating the project’s completion are set to bolster infrastructure development in the Maldives and strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

About Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP):

• It is the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives, consisting of a 6.7km bridge and causeway network to connect the islands of Male, Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi in the Maldives using renewable energy.
• The GMCP is set to serve as a vital economic and transport link for the Maldives, connecting four crucial islands, which represent nearly half of the country’s population, with the proposed Gulhifalhu Port and Thilafushi Industrial Zone, as well as South Asia and other regions beyond.
• It is the largest-ever infrastructure project in the Maldives, funded under Indian grant and line of credit.
• It is conceived as a national economic engine for the Maldives.
• The project will not only provide a major boost to connectivity between these islands but is also expected to redefine the economic landscape of the country.

Importance of Maldives for India:

• Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast), and its situation at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through Indian Ocean (particularly the 8° N and 1 ½° N channels) imbues it with significant strategic importance to India.
• Maldives occupies a special place under “Neighbourhood First” Foreign Policy of India, which aims to bring stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Also, both the nations are key players in maintaining safety and security of the IOR, thus contributing to India-led Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision.

National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024

Context:

• The President of India presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2024 to the nursing professionals.
• Nurses were conferred the award in recognition of their outstanding commitment to duty and service to the community.

About the Award:

• The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in the year 1973 as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to the society.
• A total of 15 awards are given in the category of Registered Auxiliary Nurses & Midwife, Registered Nurses and Midwife and Registered Lady Visitor.
• The award is given to outstanding nursing personnel employed in Central, State/UTs and Voluntary Organizations.
• The nurse in her/his regular job in the hospital or community settings, educational or administrative setting is eligible for the national award.
• Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, Cash Award of Rs.1,00,000/- and a medal.

No highway toll fee up to 20 km for vehicles with GNSS

Context:

• Under the new regulations, fees will now be charged on the actual distance travelled if the distance exceeds 20 km.

News:

• Motorists using vehicles with a functional global navigation satellite system (GNSS) will be allowed to travel toll-free on highways and expressways up to 20 kilometres daily with effect from September 10, 2024, according to a government notification.
• Under the new regulations, known as the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024, fees will now be charged on the actual distance travelled if the distance exceeds 20 km.
• Implementation of GNSS-based electronic toll collection in India will facilitate smooth movement of vehicles along the National Highways and is envisaged to provide several benefits to highway users such as barrier-less free-flow tolling leading to hassle-free riding experience and distance-based tolling where users will pay only for the stretch they have travelled on a national highway.
• The GNSS-based collection will also r esult in more efficient toll collection as it helps to plug leakages and check toll evaders.

About GNSS:

• Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is a general term describing any satellite constellation that provides positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services on a global or regional basis.
• While GPS is the most prevalent GNSS, other nations are fielding, or have fielded, their own systems to provide complementary, independent PNT capability.

GPS:

• The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S.-owned utility that provides users with positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.
• GPS satellites provide service to civilian and military users.
• The civilian service is freely available to all users on a continuous, worldwide basis.
• The military service is available to U.S. and allied armed forces as well as approved Government agencies.

BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS):

• BeiDou, or BDS, is a global GNSS owned and operated by the People’s Republic of China.
• The operational system consists of 35 satellites.
• BDS was previously called Compass.

Galileo:

• Galileo is a global GNSS owned and operated by the European Union.

GLONASS:

• GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is a global GNSS owned and operated by the Russian Federation.
• The fully operational system consists of 24+ satellites.

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) / Navigation Indian Constellation (NavIC):

• IRNSS is a regional GNSS owned and operated by the Government of India.
• IRNSS is an autonomous system designed to cover the Indian region and 1500 km around the Indian mainland.
• The system consists of 7 satellites.
• In 2016, India renamed IRNSS as the Navigation Indian Constellation (NavIC, meaning “sailor” or “navigator”).

Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS):

• QZSS is a regional GNSS owned by the Government of Japan.
• QZSS complements GPS to improve coverage in East Asia and Oceania.