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Time of India
26-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Covid-19 is now endemic, like flu: Expert
HYDERABAD: In light of recent spurt in Covid-19 cases, scientists and public health experts believe that the current variants are not a major concern. They emphasize that there is no need for a rush to vaccinate or extreme measures, as the scientific community and the public have learned how to manage the situation effectively. Also, Covid-19 has transitioned from a pandemic to an endemic disease (regularly found in a particular place or among a particular group of people and difficult to get rid of) like seasonal flu. N Madhusudhana Rao, CEO of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Incubation Centre, told TOI many measures implemented during first and second waves of Covid-19 were unnecessary. He highlighted that without extensive surveys on the vaccines administered, it would be challenging to determine which vaccines remain effective. Until recently, several Covid-19 viruses were cultured for research purposes at the incubation centre. "During the first wave, we didn't know much about the virus. For instance, we saw bleach being sprayed on roads, even though the virus spreads through the air; that measure was not necessary. I can also say that some steroids were given to people who were only mildly affected due to a lack of awareness. Over time, we realised that basic treatment was sufficient for those without co-morbidities," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 중년될수록 딱딱해지는 복부 "똥뱃살·나잇살" 싹~ 녹였다! 중년비만 나잇살·출렁살 해결 더 알아보기 Undo The administration of vaccines was a major initiative during the third and fourth waves globally, he added. "Now, we must determine which vaccines are still effective, given that the current vaccines were developed based on variants from those earlier waves. Numerous vaccines were distributed worldwide, so a survey is needed to assess their efficacy," the CCMB expert said. In the initial years, CCMB had maintained live Covid-19 viruses in highly secured labs to assist companies developing vaccines, but that activity has ceased, and genome sequencing has stopped. Rao said Covid-19 (a pandemic) has transitioned into an endemic phase (like seasonal flu), as evidenced by evolving patterns of SARS-CoV-2 variants across different countries. Up until the emergence of the JN.1 variant, there was a relatively uniform global pattern in variant circulation. However, after the JN.1 variant, this trend shifted, with each country now demonstrating its own distinct evolutionary trajectories, he added.
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
CCMB researchers discover key role of protein agility in binding to different molecular partners
Hyderabad: Scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have recently made a significant discovery: proteins can perform multiple functions by temporarily changing their shape, not only based on their fixed three-dimensional structure but also through their flexibility. The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, reveals that two structurally identical plant proteins exhibit different substrate specificities, allowing them to recognise distinct substrates. The key difference is that one of the proteins is more flexible than the other. This enhanced flexibility enables it to bind to various types of RNA molecules, as the protein can dynamically rearrange its structure to align with the shape of its partner molecules. This property is crucial for gene regulation. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and advanced computational methods, researchers identified transient protein structures that constitute only 1 per cent of the total protein. These structures, which briefly change shape, play a vital role in recognising different RNA forms. 'We demonstrated that a protein's ability to change shape slightly is just as important as its stable structure,' said lead author Dr Mandar V Deshmukh. Through these transient dynamic states, proteins can function efficiently in the complex conditions of the cellular environment, helping organisms to regulate their genes properly under changing circumstances. This discovery could lead to revolutionary advancements in drug design and the improvement of plant traits in the future.' The study also revealed that changes in a few amino acids in non-active site residues of a protein can result in significant functional differences. This underscores the importance of comprehensively studying both structure and dynamics, particularly in the development of drug target proteins. 'The ability of some proteins to perform multiple functions, known as functional promiscuity, reflects one of Nature's originalities,' noted Debadutta Patra and Jaydeep Paul, joint first authors of the study. The research highlights how plants precisely control RNA processing using fewer proteins and without the need for an adaptive immune system. Scientists believe this study could pave the way for new discoveries in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
