6 varieties of neelakurinji identified in Santhanpara region of Western Ghats (GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- Recently, an expert team has identified six varieties of the neelakurinji on the Kallippara hills at Santhanpara in Idukki, Kerala.
New varieties:
- The flowers that are on bloom now belong to the Strobilantheskunthiana variety.
- Alongside Strobilantheskunthiana, the types of neelakurinji flowers that have been identified from the hill ranges include Strobilanthesanamallaica, Strobilanthesheyneanus, Strobilanthespulnyensis, and Strobilanthesneoasper.
- All these neelakurinji species are endemic to the Western Ghats and spread over nearly 200 acres of the Kallippara hills.
About Neelakurinji flowers:
- Locally known as Kurinji, the Neelakurinji flowers or StrobilanthesKunthianagrow at an altitude of 1,300 to 2,400 metres.
- The shrub is usually 30 to 60 cm high.
- The state has around 45 species of Neelakurinji, with different species having been catalogued on different altitudes.
- Each species blooms at intervals of six, nine, 11, or 12 years.
- A shrubby flowering plant that belongs to the family Acanthaceae, Strobilanthes is the second largest genus in the family.
- Among various unique characteristics, species diversity sets Strobilanthes apart. The genus comprises about 350-400 species and the Indian subcontinent has more than 150 species.
- It is second in diversity in plants, next only to Balsams (Impatiens) which has over 1000 species recorded.
Biodiversity-rich Western Ghats its cradle:
- The Western Ghats is the hotspot of Strobilanthes with 99 percent of all species found in India being endemic to the Ghats.
- Since the plant species is hugely dependent on microclimatic conditions, the blooming of Neelakurinji in the Western Ghats is an indicator of its habitat diversity and presence of specific microclimatic conditions that’s congenial to the survival of rare species of plants like Strobilanthes.
- The Nilgiris (or the ‘blue mountains’), which takes its name from the blue Kurinjiflowers, perhaps have the most number of species in the Western Ghats.
- Nilgiris has more than 60 species of which 10-15 are endemic and some of them are endangered.
- The largest protected area in Kerala Periyar Tiger Reserve is with 23 species including S. kunthiana and Eravikulam National Park has at least 18 species.
Conservation efforts:
- In the Nilgiris, only 10 percent of the original shola grassland is left. Habitat loss is one of the prime reasons why Strobilanthesis not seen as much as before. Road networks that make way for invasive species push the endemic ones away.
- Researchers agree that grassland conservation is paramount to conserving many Strobilanthes species. Grasslands, a dynamic vegetation that possesses multiple ecological niches and hence more species diversity, are in fact the cradle of Neelakurinji.
- The popularity of the flower also inspired conservationists in Kerala to put forward an appeal to the government to conserve the habitat of S.kunthiana that resulted in declaring a 32 sq km grassland area in the region called Kurinjimala (a mountain for Kurinji) as a sanctuary in 2006.
Neutralising antibody against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants
(GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Context:
- The discovery of monoclonal antibodies have come a long way since they were first made using the hybridoma technology in 1975.
- Now more cutting-edge platforms are available that can clone and express antibody genes from the cells that make the antibodies (B cells) in a high-throughput manner and are in use both for basic research and translational purpose.
Very recently labs in India started to establish these human monoclonal antibody platforms to tackle public health concerns specific to India.
Helpful collaboration:
- During the height of the pandemic, as an exemplary example of national and international collaboration, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) partnered with Department of Biotechnology (DBT), International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, and Emory Vaccine Centre, Atlanta, to spearhead a discovery of a human monoclonal towards SARS-CoV-2.
- This led to the generation of a large number of human monoclonal antibodies that were specific to SARS-CoV-2.
- The search eventually narrowed down to one antibody (clone 002-S21F2) that was potently and broadly neutralising across various SARS-CoV-2 variants and Omicron sub-lineages.
Traditional monoclonal therapies:
- The earlier monoclonal therapies that were approved for emergency use in other countries primarily functioned by blocking the interaction of the virus through its receptor binding domain (RBD) with the host cell receptor (ACE2).
- The virus makes new mutations in its receptor binding domain (RBD), which is a critical part of the virus for binding to the host cell.
- Hence, as the virus evolved, it acquired mutations precisely in this region, and each variant was decorated with a different set of mutations which allowed the virus to evade many of these antibody-based therapeutics.
Latest monoclonalantibody:
- In contrast, ICMR antibody clone retains its potency and broad activity because the antibody binds to a region that is outside the main RBD-ACE2 motif.
- The SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer is like a flower with three petals. This flower is in closed or down conformation and more like a bud; the virus has many of these on its surface. When it wants to infect the host cells, it opens up or as we call it the three RBD's go in the 'up confirmation'.
- However, antibody (002-S21F2) binds in such a way that it does not allow this 'closed to open'/'down to up' alteration to happen efficiently, and thus the virus is now incapable of infecting the host cell.
- As this region is not precisely within the RBD-ACE2 binding motif, it is not currently a mutational hotspot and thus is conserved across most variants, the Omicron sub-lineages included.
- One of the parameters that govern what an antibody is like is its genetic makeup; the human body is capable of making almost infinite combinations of antibodies.
Implications of the research:
- Thefirst and foremost is that the discovery allows India to move towards its indigenous antibody-based therapeutics. Moreover, the information of the conserved regions of the virus that induce broad and potent neutralising antibodies can be utilised towards universal vaccine design.
- Second, while the COVID-19 pandemic is no more at its height, we have not completely eradicated the virus. Thus, there will be always a part of our population that will remain vulnerable to this ever-evolving virus.
- Currently, there are not even a handful of human monoclonals that have stood the test of time against all variants and thus the need for such immediate therapies is always of value.
- Third, the study showcasesIndia’s capacity towards cutting-edge technologies that are currently in use only in the developed world. It allows to pivot these capacities and expertise towards any need-of-the-hour indigenous solutions that will be more sustainable and affordable to the Indian population.
WWF’s diet chart to help curb climate change, biodiversity loss
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- On the occasion ofWorld Food Day (October 16), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) outlined a sustainable diet plan that can help address a host of environmental challenges while also providing health benefits.
Details:
- The global food system is one of the primary drivers of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the identified threat to 22,500 of the 41,000 species at risk of extinction.
- Cutting down on meat consumption can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions is well known. But global WWF says much more is needed to slow climate change and biodiversity loss.
- Wasting less food, looking out for eco-labels and following a more diverse diet can go a long way.
It encouraged the following consumption patterns:
Plant-heavy diet:
- Growing plants requires less water and land and emits lower volumes of greenhouse gases than meat, dairy and egg production.
- Incorporating more fruits, vegetables and wholegrains in our diet can reduce the impact our food system has on the environment.
Diversify the platter:
- Seventy-five percent of the global food supply comes from only 12 plant and five animal species.
- The global dependence on a small range of food threatens the diversity of species in agriculture, weakens our food systems and is also not the most nutritious.
Cut food waste:
- Planning meals, shopping smart and more efficient storage of food items can help reduce food waste.
- Nearly 570 million tonnes of the global food waste occurs at the household level.
Proteins beyond meat:
- Around 60 per cent of the greenhouse gas emission from agriculture is due to animal farming.
- Consuming more mushrooms, peas, beans and nuts to meet our protein requirements can help reduce this burden.
Pay attention to logos:
- Being aware of and choosing food packages based on eco-labels can go a long way.
- The organisation listed out some logos one can look for while grocery shopping. These include: Organic, Rainforest Alliance (for sustainable agriculture), Fairtrade (protecting farmers and workers in developing countries), Freedom Food (animal welfare), MSC and ASC (Marine stewardship council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council, for seafood) and RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil).
- Fat, sugar, salt best avoided: Cultivation of sugarcane and sugar beet causes soil erosion and is often associated with intensive use of water and pesticides.
- Simple lifestyle choices such as choosing water over sugary drinks and saving cakes, sweets, chocolates, cured meat, fries and crisps for special occasions can make a significant difference. New sugar plantations are replacing natural habitats, leading to biodiversity decline.
Way Forward:
- The advantages of such a global shift towards the above diet are plenty.
- These include combating climate change and food insecurity, reducing biodiversity loss, improving human health, significantly reducing premature mortality and helping decrease the risks of future pandemics.
Hyderabad bags World Green City Award 2022
(Miscellaneous)
Why in news?
- Hyderabad has won the overall World Green City Award 2022 and another in the category Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth at the International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH) 2022.
- World Green City Awards 2022 held in Jeju, South Korea.
Details:
- Hyderabad is the only Indian City that was selected and it is a matter of pride for Telangana and India that has won not only the category award but the overall World Green City 2022 award, the best across all 6 categories.
- It is a matter of pride that Hyderabad is the only city from India to be selected for these international awards.
- The city of Hyderabad has bagged the prestigious award beating Paris, Bogota, Mexico City, Montreal, and Fortaleza in Brazil.
Here's a list of other cities that won the AIPH awards in different categories:
- Living Green for Biodiversity:Reverdecer Bogotá, Bogota D.C, Colombia.
- Living Green for Climate Change:Mexico City’s Environmental and Climate Change Program, Mexico City, Mexico.
- Living Green for Health and Wellbeing:Transforming degraded land into Urban Micro Parks, City of Fortaleza, Brazil.
- Living Green for Water:The Phytotechnology Stations at the Montréal Botanical Garden / Space for Life, City of Montreal, Canada.
- Living Green for Social Cohesion:OASIS Schoolyard Project, City of Paris, France.
- Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth:Green Garland to the State of Telangana, City of Hyderabad.
AboutAIPH World Green City Awards:
- The AIPH World Green City Awards are designed to champion ambitious nature-orientated approaches to city design and operation.
- Specifically, they seek to recognise public initiatives relying on a greater use of plants and nature to create better city environments, helping to fulfil local aspirations for improved economic, social and environmental resilience.
