What Do Different Covid-19 Strains Do To Your Body? IIT-Indore Study Explains
Last Updated:
IIT Indore and IIIT Allahabad's joint study reveals how COVID-19 variants impact the body, offering vital insights for long COVID treatment and health policy planning
A landmark study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore has shed light on how different COVID-19 variants impact the human body. Published in the Journal of Proteome Research, the study examined clinical data from 3,134 patients across the first and second waves of the pandemic in India. The findings help explain how each variant influences the severity of illness and which biological systems are most affected.
The study was jointly conducted by Professor Rajesh Kumar of IIT Indore and Professor Sonali Agarwal of IIIT Allahabad. Experts believe the findings could prove crucial in deepening our understanding of long COVID symptoms and in developing more targeted treatments, thereby enhancing future health policy and preparedness. The researchers used machine learning to identify nine key biological markers associated with disease severity. In addition, advanced methodologies such as multi-omics and Raman spectroscopy were utilised.
Prof. Rajesh Kumar's team at IIT Indore mapped biological changes, while Prof. Sonali Agarwal's team at IIIT Allahabad analysed patient data. This collaboration revealed for the first time how COVID-19 affects the body at the molecular level.
The Delta variant, in particular, was found to disrupt the body's metabolic and hormonal systems more severely than other strains. Dr Hem Chandra Jha from IIT Indore noted that each variant triggers a distinct response, with Delta directly impairing energy and hormonal pathways, contributing to harsher symptoms.
Professor Suhas S. Joshi, Director of IIT Indore, highlighted the study's significance, stating that such research not only advances scientific understanding but also aids in shaping better health strategies and treatments. The findings are expected to support improved responses to long-term effects of epidemics like COVID.
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
BioNtech to buy CureVac in $1.25 billion share deal to boost cancer focus
German biotech firm BioNTech has agreed to acquire domestic peer CureVac for about $1.25 billion worth of BioNTech shares, it said on Thursday, to boost its work on new mRNA-based cancer treatments. Under the agreed deal, which pairs two former rivals in the race to develop COVID-19 vaccines, each CureVac share will be exchanged for about $5.46 in BioNTech American depositary shares, or ADS, BioNTech said. The deal further underscores BioNTech's costly long-term ambition to focus on new cancer treatments and show that its success as Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine partner, which left its balance sheet flush with billions of euros in cash, was not a fluke. "With the acquisition, BioNTech aims to strengthen the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of investigational mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy," it said. CureVac about a year ago opted to focus on oncology when it agreed to sell its remaining influenza and COVID-19 vaccine development to its alliance partner, Britain's GSK. It had previously cut jobs as it sought to move beyond its failure to develop an mRNA-based COVID vaccine during the pandemic. BioNTech last week won a major shot in the arm for its cancer drug activities when Bristol Myers Squibb agreed to pay up to $11.1 billion to jointly develop a next-generation cancer immunotherapy that could take on rival Merck & Co's best-selling drug Keytruda. The company said payment in BioNTech shares would be subject to a collar mechanism - if the 10-day volume-weighted average price of BioNTech ADS shortly before the closing of the offer exceeds $126.55, the exchange ratio would be 0.04318, and if the price is lower than $84.37, the exchange ratio would be 0.06476. CureVac shareholders are expected to own between 4% and 6% of BioNTech after the deal closes, it added.
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Active Covid-19 cases cross above 7000 mark in India
India continues to see a steady increase in Covid-19 cases. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the active case count has crossed 7,000, with 7,121 active infections right now. Kerala continues to record the highest number of cases, with over 2,200 active cases so far. Powered by Capital Market - Live News
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
COVID-19: Isolation beds kept ready in Kalyan-Dombivli civic hospitals
Thane: Amid the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra , the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation in Thane district has kept 15 isolation beds ready at two civic hospitals to meet any urgency, officials said on Thursday. Maharashtra reported 107 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total of viral infections detected in the state so far this year to 1,700, as per the public health department. Two more deaths of COVID-19 patients also were recorded in the last couple of days, taking the toll since January to 21, an official release on Wednesday said. Of the new infections, 34 were recorded in Mumbai, one in Thane district, seven in Thane Municipal Corporation limits, five in Navi Mumbai, one in Kalyan Municipal Corporation, four in Pune district, 44 in Pune Municipal Corporation, seven in Pimpri Chinchwad, one in Sangli, two in Sangli Municipal Corporation and one in Nagpur Municipal Corporation, it said. As part of COVID-19 preparedness , 10 isolation beds have been kept ready at the Bai Rukmini Bai Hospital and five at the Shastri Nagar Hospital , and RT-PCR and antigen testing kits are available, KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal told reporters. "People should report symptoms promptly and not panic," he said. On monsoon preparedness, he said a 24x7 emergency control room is operational at the municipal headquarters, with deputy commissioner-level officers on night duty. Emergency rooms have also been activated in ward offices, with specially assigned multi-departmental teams. An NDRF team has already arrived to coordinate disaster response and awareness, the official said. Reaffirming the civic body's commitment to quality education, Goyal said the KDMC will launch five semi-English schools from the academic year 2025-26. "To ensure quality education, a guardian officer has been appointed for every municipal school," he added. The civic body also unveiled initiatives under the BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) method, introducing mural-based learning and improving school infrastructure, including repairs, furniture and timely distribution of books, uniforms and essentials. Under the "Nipun" programme, primary education will be prioritised, with digital quality monitoring through the Vinoba Bhave App and regular inspections by guardian officers, the civic body said.
