Indian scientists develop RS2, a heat tolerant adaptive Covid 19 Vaccine (GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have designed a promising vaccine candidate that could revolutionise the fight against Covid-19.
- The team has engineered a heat-tolerant vaccine that is not only effective against all current strains of SARS-CoV-2 but can also be swiftly adapted to combat future variants.
RS2:
- The innovative vaccine candidate, known as RS2, is a synthetic antigen that combines two critical components of the virus's spike protein: the S2 subunit and the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD).
- The S2 subunit is less prone to mutations compared to the S1 subunit targeted by most existing vaccines, making it a more stable candidate for long-term immunity. The RBD is recognized for its ability to elicit a robust immune response.
- This hybrid protein was produced using mammalian cell lines.
- This suggests that the RS2 antigen could be manufactured in large quantities, which is essential for mass vaccination efforts.
Features:
- Animal model testing revealed that the RS2 antigen triggered a potent immune response and provided superior protection compared to vaccines containing the entire spike protein.
- Moreover, the RS2 antigen boasts an exceptional feature: it can be stored at room temperature for up to a month without the need for refrigeration.
- This characteristic could significantly reduce the logistical challenges and costs associated with vaccine distribution, particularly in regions with limited access to cold storage facilities.
Way Forward:
- The RS2 vaccine candidate's adaptability to include the RBD region of any emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant, coupled with its cost-effective production and distribution potential, positions it as a vital future tool in the global effort to control and eventually end the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under new deal, each State can field tableau once in three years
(GS Paper 1, Culture)
Why in news?
- With repeated controversies erupting over rejection of tableaux for the Republic Day parade year after year, the Defence Ministry has proposed a plan for the States and Union Territories to showcase their display by rotation.
- Approximately 15 tableaux from the States and Union Territories are selected for the parade every year.
Details:
- Discussions were held three or four times with the Resident Commissioners of various States and Union Territories at a meeting chaired by the Defence Secretary.
- To fast-track the participation of tableaux year-wise, willingness of States and UTs was sought in advance for the next three years for their participation in Republic Day Parades 2024, 2025 and 2026. In response, most of the States/UTs conveyed their willingness for all the three years.
Tableaux for 2024 parade:
- To encourage new and fresh talent, the Culture Ministry empanelled 30 agencies for design and fabrication of tableaux through an open selection process. The States and Union Territories were advised to engage these agencies following an appropriate procedure.
- After four rounds of meetings, 16 States and Union Territories; Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh — were selected for the 2024 parade.
- The States that could not get an opportunity were invited to showcase their tableaux at the Bharat Parv at the Red Fort from January 23 to 31.
- The list shows that the tableaux of non-BJP-ruled States of Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Meghalaya have been selected by the Expert Committee for RDP-2024. On the other hand, States such as Uttarakhand and Goa have not been selected.
Background:
- Earlier Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hit out at the Union government over the non-inclusion of the State’s tableau this year alleging discrimination against the State. The Centre denied the allegation.
- The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged that despite sending seven proposals for 2024 parade, the Centre rejected all of them.
- Karnataka has displayed its tableau in the Republic day parade every year from 2015 to 2023.
Why did north India fog heavily in last weeks of 2023?
(GS Paper 1, Geography)
Why in news?
- Most of North India also experienced a dense fog that reduced visibility in many areas to as little as 50 metres for several days.
Where was fogging reported?
- Haryana, including Chandigarh, plus isolated pockets of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh reported fog with visibility reduced to under 200 metres.
- Other States including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand also reported fog for a few hours in the morning.
What is fog?
- A fog is a collection of small droplets of water produced when evaporated water has cooled down and condensed.
- Fog is nothing but a thick cloud, but very close to the earth’s surface. For a thick fog to form, temperatures should be lower and abundant moisture should be available near the surface.
- Fog materialises whenever there is a temperature disparity between the ground and the air. This happens frequently during Indian winters, fog is created when the temperature drops at night and in the early morning, aerosols present in the atmosphere condense. High humidity, combined with an ample presence of water vapour or moisture, encourages foggy conditions.
- The process by which it cools plays a pivotal role in the formation of fog. One primary mechanism contributing to fog formation is called infrared cooling. It typically occurs when the weather is transitioning from summer to winter.
- In the summer, the ground absorbs radiation from the sun, becomes warmer, and moistens the air passing over it. When cooler weather kicks in, this mass of warm, moist air comes in contact with processes that cool it.
- The ‘collision’ prompts the water vapour in the air to condense rapidly, giving rise to fog. Another type of fog, known as radiation fog, is prevalent and occurs when an unseasonably warm day with high humidity is followed by rapidly dropping temperatures.
- The specific type of fog, its duration, and its effects are contingent on various environmental conditions.
Why is northern India prone to fogging?
- The entire Indo-Gangetic plains are prone to formation of fog during winter season, as all the conditions; low temperatures, low wind speed, moisture availability and plenty of aerosols are present in this region.
- Moisture incursion into this region can happen once a Western Disturbance, a precipational pattern that brings rain to north India during winter months moves across northern parts. Sometimes, moisture incursion can happen from the Arabian Sea also.
