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New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
AdFalciVax: India's shot at stopping malaria on its tracks
India will soon have an advanced vaccine against malaria. In a major scientific breakthrough, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed an innovative recombinant, chimeric multi-stage malaria vaccine that could transform malaria prevention and control efforts in India and globally. Named AdFalciVax, the vaccine has been developed to offer both protection against Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans and interruption of community transmission, unlike the existing two vaccines that can partially prevent infection in humans but cannot stop transmission in the community. The novel vaccine developed by Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar, one of the constituent institutes of ICMR, is now ready for technology transfer to manufacturers or organisations for production, clinical trials and its commercialisation. Preliminary trials on animal models have been highly successful. The pre-clinical validation of the vaccine has been conducted in collaboration with National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), another constituent institute of ICMR, and National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, an autonomous research institute of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. A dual-stage game changer Unlike the currently available WHO-recommended vaccines - RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix), and R21/Matrix-M which have shown efficacies ranging between 33% and 67%, AdFalciVax promises dual-stage protection. It will not only shield people from contracting the deadliest strain of malaria but also prevent its spread within communities, considered an essential factor in breaking the chain of transmission. Dr Susheel Singh, scientist-D at RMRC, said AdFalciVax deploys a full-length PfCSP (circumsporozoite protein), a key surface antigen of P falciparum, for broader immune protection. It also incorporates a novel fusion of Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 proteins to induce potent transmission-blocking antibodies. 'The new vaccine can prevent human infection and interrupts transmission in the community, thereby tackling two critical developmental bottlenecks in the malaria parasite's life cycle,' Dr Singh said. The RMRC researchers said the vaccine has been developed using advanced protein engineering techniques and it leverages Lactococcus lactis, a safe bacterial host system, for antigen production. Additional director general of ICMR and director of RMRC Dr Sanghamitra Pati said preclinical trials conducted on mice showed robust and long-lasting immunity, even when exposed to 10,000 dual-transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasites engineered to express P falciparum antigens. 'The immune protection lasted over four months post-booster dose, which translates to more than a decade of protection in humans. The vaccine was administered with safe alum-based adjuvants and showed no adverse reactions,' said Dr Pati. Senior scientist Dr Subhash Singh was also a key contributor to the development of the vaccine. High stability at low cost The uniqueness of AdFalciVax over existing vaccines is its pharmaceutical stability. The formulation remains potent for over nine months at room temperature, doing away with the need for expensive cold chain logistics, which continue to be a long-standing challenge in vaccine distribution, especially in remote and under-resourced regions. The vaccine is also highly cost-effective, with an estimated production cost of just `20 per dose. The current vaccines are priced between `250 and `830 per dose. The affordability of the newly developed vaccine could make mass immunisation programmes significantly more viable. ICMR has now invited expressions of interest from eligible firms and manufacturers for technology transfer and commercial-scale production. The vaccine is expected to go for clinical trial stages soon and potentially be rolled out for public use in the next few years. However, the efficacy during the clinical trials will be the key.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Rapid test kits for Hepatitis B, Sickle cell anemia to be available at PHCs, government decides
NEW DELHI: In a big move to ensure timely detection of common diseases like Hepatitis B, sickle cell anemia and syphilis at primary level, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has suggested that rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to diagnose them should be available at rural health centres. This includes the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Sub-Centres and primary health centres. Sources said the move follows feedback received from national programs and other subject experts, who highlighted the growing importance of providing rapid diagnostic tools at primary health facilities for early detection and treatment. Many RDTs available in the market have not been included for the want of robust evidence. Officials said these tests can be reconsidered for inclusion in the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) once the required data is comprehensively assessed and verified, the officials said. The ICMR, which is the apex health research agency, released the NEDL in 2019 to set basic standards for availability of diagnostic facilities at health facilities in the country. Recently, it has been updated to include RDTs and other requirements. For example, the 2019 NEDL had kept certain diagnostic tests under the "hub-and-spoke" model at primary health centres (PHCs). A hub and spoke model in a laboratory setting is a healthcare delivery strategy where a central, well-equipped "hub" laboratory provides specialized diagnostic services, while smaller, less equipped "spoke" laboratories handle routine and less complex testing, with samples often transferred between the two. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo However, the updated equipment list which was released recently suggests these tests should be available at the PHCs itself. This will do away with the need for sample transfer to hubs thereby making it possible to diagnose and treat a wider array of conditions at the lower level, the ICMR says. The updated NEDL also addresses the issue of new nomenclature of healthcare facilities with Sub-Centres now referred to as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The revision of the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) was undertaken through extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. The process began with an open call on the ICMR website inviting suggestions on the existing Essential Diagnostics List. This was followed by four rounds of consultations to discuss the suggestions received with the relevant experts and stakeholders. Subsequently, the draft revised list was deliberated with representatives from State NHM and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The final list incorporated the feedback and recommendations received in all consultations, officials said.
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
ICMR recommends tests for TB, hepatitis at PHCs: How will this improve public health?
From rapid diagnostic tests for Hepatitis B, point-of-care tests for thalassaemia and sickle cell disease, to sample collection for molecular testing for tuberculosis (TB) at the sub-centre level — the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has updated its National List of Essential Diagnostics with the aim of bringing clinical testing closer to people. The National List of Essential Diagnostics — first released in 2019 — is a list of all the tests that must be available at different levels of health facilities, such as sub-centres, primary health centres or district hospitals. One of the key changes in the second iteration of the list is the inclusion of several rapid diagnostic and biochemical tests at lower levels of health centres, keeping in mind the expanding infrastructure over the years. The government's healthcare delivery mechanism provides primary care through sub-centres, primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and community healthcare centres (CHCs), secondary care through sub-district hospitals, tertiary care through district hospitals and super-speciality care through medical colleges. Why was the list revised? 'In the six years since the first list was released, there have been significant changes. Take, for example, the government investing in semi-auto analyzers at the PHC level. This means the tests can be performed at the PHC itself, instead of the samples being sent to a higher centre for analysis in a hub-and-spoke model,' said Dr Kamini Walia, senior scientist at ICMR, who was behind the compilation of the list. 'There have also been changes to the Indian Public Health Standards and the Integrated Public Health Laboratory Standards, so it was a good idea to revisit the list,' she added What are the new tests in the 2025 list compared to the one released six years ago? Several rapid diagnostic tests that have been added include those for sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, Hepatitis B and syphilis at the sub-centre level. Many of these are priority diseases for the government. The new list also recommends collecting samples for dengue testing at the sub-centre level. Over the years, the spread of the mosquito-borne disease has expanded to all states of the country, making it a bigger public health challenge. Many of the blood tests — such as those to check for blood glucose levels, liver enzymes, and cholesterol — which could not be performed at the primary health centre level earlier, are now recommended at that level, with semi-auto analyzers (machines for conducting chemical and biological analysis of samples with minimal human intervention) becoming available. What do the new tests mean for public health? The updated list, once implemented, will have significant public health implications. Experts point out that the list has been updated keeping in view the ambitious targets set for specific diseases. For instance, the government runs a national mission aimed at eliminating sickle cell anaemia by 2047 by screening people and making them aware of whether they are carriers of the faulty gene. The mission also focusses on quick and accurate diagnosis of the disease and providing quality care to patients. The government runs the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, which focusses on reducing cases and deaths due to the various hepatitis infections. How this is likely to enhance sample collection for critical diseases at the sub-centre level The 2025 list recommends collecting samples for molecular TB testing right from the sub-centre level. For sub-centres and primary health centres, it recommends collecting sputum samples and sending them to a higher centre. From the community health centre level onwards, it recommends performing these tests in-house. This has been made possible due to the penetration of cost-effective molecular testing machines even in smaller centres during the pandemic. The country's National TB Elimination Programme recommends that molecular diagnosis become the first line of testing, instead of the less sensitive microscopy. The burden of the pathogen has to be much higher for it to test positive using microscopy, meaning the use of molecular tests can detect many more cases, including asymptomatic ones. It can also determine if a person is resistant to commonly used medicines. . The list calls for samples for sophisticated tests — such as HbA1c, which shows average blood glucose levels over a period of three months — to be collected at the PHC level and sent to a higher centre. The government has been focusing on controlling and caring for people with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. At the CHC level, the new list has also added tests such as the TB skin test, which can detect the presence of the pathogen even in people who do not have an active infection. Dental X-rays have now been added at the CHC level. This is important, considering the government's goal of ensuring these tests are available at its centres. 'This list is important because it is implemented in the health centres under the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, which ensures that these tests are available at all health centres and, in turn, reduces people's out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare,' said Dr Walia. In addition, the 2025 list has also merged the diagnostic lists for sub-district hospitals and district hospitals. This is because sub-district hospitals are being upgraded to district hospitals, while district hospitals are being upgraded to the level of medical colleges across the country, Dr Walia explained.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Has Chandipura changed its pattern? ICMR teams visit Gujarat as samples of all 14 deceased children test negative for virus
With samples of children, who died of suspected Chandipura virus over the last few weeks, testing negative for the infection, teams of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) visited Gujarat earlier in July in a bid to study the 'changing pattern' of the viral encephalitis. The teams collected samples of sandflies, domestic animals and residents from villages where suspected Chandipura deaths among children have been reported since June this year. the ICMR teams camped in four districts of the state – Panchmahal, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Valsad – and studied the pattern of the virus. According to officials in Panchmahal, the ICMR team visited the district last week to gather samples of sandflies, ticks, mosquitoes and other vectors along with the that of domesticated animals and cattle, rats and human beings from the areas where four deaths have been reported. Panchmahal Chief District Health Officer Dr Vipul Gamit told The Indian Express, 'The ICMR team has gathered samples of those in the vicinity of the family that witnessed a death in the last month. They will be studied for antibodies — IgM and IgG — to understand the spread of the virus. There is a changing pattern in the virus… the same case with Japanese encephalitis, which in the recent past, has not been detected positive in laboratory tests.' Dr Gamit said that much like 2024, the Chandipura suspected cases —that later turned out to be negative after tests in Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) — emerged sporadically from villages that were unrelated to one another. 'In one case, of a five-year-old boy from Panchmahal who died, and later tested negative, the other two children living in the same house — his cousins aged 7 and 8 — did not have any symptoms and are doing well,' Dr Gamit said, adding that the symptoms include high-grade fever, convulsions, followed by diarrhoea with 'little or no time' for medical response. 'Once the respiratory organs are involved, the children cannot be saved,' he added. Teams of ICMR also visited Bhavnagar, Valsad and Rajkot to collect samples of the vectors and other residents in close proximity to the deceased. Officials of the Gujarat government's medical department said that the ICMR will take the samples to its laboratory in Puducherry to check if the pattern of the virus has changed in the current season. An official said, 'The sudden increase in the number of negative cases of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), which are not showing a positive report, has prompted the ICMR to send across a team this year to study the pattern of the virus. Specific villages in certain areas where the cases have been high have been selected by the ICMR teams for the study.' Vadodara's SSG hospital has recorded 14 deaths out of the 24 cases, including a 1.5 year old infant from Dahod, of suspected Chandipura reported this year. In-charge Medical Superintendent and Dean of Baroda Medical College, Dr Ranjan Aiyer, said, 'Every year, around June, in the month of monsoon, Chandipura cases occur due to vectors and sandflies, especially among people living in mud houses in rural areas… This year, we received unknown virulent cases of around 24 children, who presented similar symptoms, particularly in areas of Panchmahal-Dahod and even Madhya Pradesh. They deteriorated very rapidly despite a paediatric team treating them.. However, all samples have tested negative for Chandipura.' What is Chandipura virus? Chandipura virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, which includes rabies. It is transmitted by sandflies and mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti, which is also a vector for dengue. The virus resides in the salivary glands of these insects and can be transmitted to humans or domestic animals through bites. The infection can lead to encephalitis and inflammation of the brain's active tissues. The symptoms include high-grade fever, convulsions, followed by diarrhoea with 'little or no time' for medical response, according to Panchmahal Chief District Health Officer Dr Vipul Gamit. The Chandipura virus was discovered in 1965, in the blood of two individuals suffering from febrile sickness, in a hamlet of the same name near Nagpur, Maharashtra.
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Protein Confusion: Do Indians Really Need Supplements Or Just Better Diets?
Last Updated: For most Indians, the key to better health doesn't lie in supplements but in a diverse, balanced, and nutrient-rich diet Protein is known as the 'building block" of the body because it is essential for muscle recovery, hormone production, immune function, and overall growth. In India, however, there's a lot of confusion around protein intake. While gym-goers often stock up on tubs of protein powder, many vegetarians worry they aren't getting enough protein. Others question whether supplements are necessary at all, or if a balanced diet can provide adequate protein without the need for powders or pills. Nidhi Sahai, Head of Clinical Dietetics & Nutrition at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, shares all you need to know: Are Indians Consuming Enough Protein? Multiple national surveys suggest that a significant portion of the Indian population does not meet the recommended protein intake. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommends approximately 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight for healthy adults. However, several studies indicate that many urban and rural Indians—particularly women, vegetarians, and older adults—fall short of this target. This gap is often not due to a lack of available protein sources, but rather diets that are heavily skewed toward carbohydrates (such as rice, chapati, and potatoes) and lacking in high-quality protein. Not necessarily, especially if you're a healthy individual who isn't engaged in intense physical training. A well-planned and balanced diet can meet the protein needs of most people. Many natural sources of protein can easily be incorporated into daily meals, including: Lentils and legumes (dal, chana, rajma) Dairy (milk, paneer, curd) Eggs, chicken, and fish Soy products (tofu, soy chunks) Nuts and seeds When Are Protein Supplements Useful? Protein supplements may be helpful in specific situations, such as: Athletes or bodybuilders who need increased protein intake Elderly individuals with poor appetite or chewing difficulties Post-surgery patients needing faster recovery Individuals with medical conditions or protein deficiencies—under professional supervision However, excessive or unnecessary supplementation, especially without proper guidance, can overburden the kidneys and lead to digestive discomfort or imbalances. What's the Real Need? Better Food Literacy and Balanced Meals Instead of rushing to the supplement aisle, most people would benefit from a greater understanding of how to build balanced meals. Consider the following tips: Include a protein source at every meal Combine cereals with pulses (e.g., rice + dal, roti + besan) Incorporate curd, milk, or buttermilk daily Choose nutritious snacks like roasted chana, boiled eggs, or nuts Limit ultra-processed foods that offer calories but little nutritional value While protein powders offer convenience, they cannot replicate the holistic benefits of real food which also provides essential micronutrients, antioxidants, fiber, and other vital compounds that support overall health. For most Indians, the key to better health doesn't lie in supplements but in a diverse, balanced, and nutrient-rich diet. With greater awareness and mindful eating habits, we can meet our protein needs naturally—one wholesome meal at a time. view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 16:10 IST News lifestyle » health-and-fitness Protein Confusion: Do Indians Really Need Supplements Or Just Better Diets? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
