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New Indian Express
20 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.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Climate
- Euronews
Serbian farmers struggle as drought dries up water supplies
A severe drought this summer has left over 1,000 cows and horses without water on a mountain in southeast Serbia, forcing the authorities to bring up emergency supplies. The early drought that started in May has affected people, animals and crops throughout the Western Balkans, causing water and power restrictions, disruptions in river traffic and problems in agriculture in this part of southeast Europe. At Suva Planina, Serbian for Dry Mountain, cattle owners said they can't remember the springs ever drying up before mid-August. Lack of water has sent the cattle roaming down the mountain in panic, they said. 'We haven't had any rain on the mountain since May 27,' lamented Nikola Manojlovic, from the nearby village of Mali Krcimir. This year has brought 'unseen hardship' for farmers Suva Planina is located about 250 kilometres from Serbia's capital, Belgrade. The drought has left visible consequences on a plateau at the altitude of some 1,200 metres — cracked ground has replaced the main water spring, along with dry, yellow grass and dust. 'We tried to dig new wells but everything has dried up,' he said. 'It was horrible, our cattle had no water for three days, they were screaming." Alarmed, authorities drove up water trucks on Thursday (17 July), and workers used hoses to fill up a pond from the tanks for the thirsty animals. The Ministry of Agriculture said it will keep sending supplies in the coming weeks. 'We are out of imminent danger,' local municipal chief Milisav Filipovic said after the water trucks drove up the mountain. He warned that the situation remains just as bad down the mountain, in villages that have faced restrictions in water supplies for weeks now. 'Our farmers don't recall such a bad and hard year,' Filipovic said. 'People here mostly do farming and use products for own needs, for their existence. This year has brought unseen hardship for them." While a spell of rainy weather in July brought some relief, farmers say that the land is too dry deep below the surface to recover easily. Scores of small rivers, lakes and creeks that are normally used in Serbia's rural areas have dried up. Farmers have asked for financial help from Serbia's government, fearing poor yields, which could spike prices. Irrigation systems in the country are underdeveloped, leaving many farmers dependent on the weather. Jovica Jaksic, of the Independent Farmers' Association, told the state RTS television that the damage to the corn is so big already that even if it rained for the rest of the summer, it wouldn't help. Persistent drought is causing damage across the region In neighbouring Bosnia, meteorologists have said that June this year could end up being the driest in recent history, causing huge damage in agriculture. In eastern Croatia, authorities declared emergency measures in several municipalities along the border with Hungary to deal with the effects of the drought. The country's vegetable growers have warned that many could go out of business. Earlier in July, both Albania and Kosovo reported water shortages that also affected electricity production in Albania. In Hungary, weather-damaged crops have dealt significant blows to the country's overall GDP. This has prompted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to announce the creation of a 'drought task force' to deal with the problem. Persistent droughts in the Great Hungarian Plain, in the country's southeast, have threatened desertification, a process where vegetation recedes due to high heat and low rainfall. The soil remains 'critically dry,' the country's meteorological service said on Thursday, warning of the negative effects on the crops. A new heat wave is expected in the Western Balkans in the coming days. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness in parts of Europe, making the region more vulnerable to health impacts and wildfires. The EU monitoring agency found that, in Europe and globally, 2024 was the hottest year on record, and the continent experienced its second-highest number of 'heat stress' days.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
India developing indigenous multi-stage Malaria vaccine 'AdFalciVax'
New Delhi: India has taken a major step forward in the fight against malaria with the development of a new indigenous vaccine candidate called AdFalciVax. This vaccine is being developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), through its institutes RMRC Bhubaneswar and the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology's National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII). AdFalciVax is a unique malaria vaccine that targets two key stages of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of malaria. Most existing vaccines only focus on one stage of the parasite's life cycle, but AdFalciVax is designed to provide stronger and longer-lasting protection by targeting both the human infection stage and the stage responsible for transmission through mosquitoes. In early lab testing, the vaccine has shown excellent results. Scientists believe that it could offer several benefits over current vaccines like RTS, S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M. These include broader protection, reduced chances of the parasite escaping the immune response, and improved long-term immunity. The vaccine also remains stable for over nine months at room temperature, making it easier to store and transport, especially in tropical regions. Additionally, it uses cost-effective ingredients like alum, which is commonly used as an adjuvant in vaccines. The vaccine is currently in the preclinical stage. If everything goes as planned, it could take around seven years for the vaccine to be ready for public use. The development timeline includes manufacturing under strict safety standards, clinical trials, and regulatory approvals. One of the key innovations of AdFalciVax is that it is made using 'Lactococcus lactis', a safe and well-known bacteria used in vaccine development. Its design makes it capable of protecting individuals from getting sick while also reducing the spread of malaria within communities. The ICMR plans to offer the vaccine technology to other organisations and manufacturers under non-exclusive agreements. This means multiple companies can work on producing the vaccine, helping it reach more people faster once approved. AdFalciVax is being developed entirely in India, supporting the government's 'Make in India' initiative.
3 days ago
- Climate
Water tanks replace springs on a Serbian mountain as drought endangers some 1,000 cows and horses
SUVA PLANINA, Serbia -- A severe drought this summer has left over 1,000 cows and horses without water on a mountain in southeast Serbia, forcing the authorities to bring up emergency supplies. The early drought that started in May has affected people, animals and crops throughout the Western Balkans, causing water and power restrictions, disruptions in river traffic and problems in agriculture in this part of southeast Europe. At Suva Planina, Serbian for Dry Mountain, cattle owners said they can't remember the springs ever drying up before mid-August. Lack of water has sent the cattle roaming down the mountain in panic, they said. 'We haven't had any rain on the mountain since May 27,' lamented Nikola Manojlovic, from the nearby village of Mali Krcimir. Suva Planina is located about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Serbia's capital, Belgrade. The drought has left visible consequences on a plateau at the altitude of some 1,200 meters (nearly 4,000 feet) — cracked ground has replaced the main water spring, along with dry, yellow grass and dust. 'We tried to dig new wells but everything has dried up,' he said. 'It was horrible, our cattle had no water for three days, they were screaming." Alarmed, authorities drove up water trucks on Thursday, and workers used hoses to fill up a pond from the tanks for the thirsty animals. The Ministry of Agriculture said it will keep sending supplies in the coming weeks. 'We are out of imminent danger,' local municipal chief Milisav Filipovic said after the water trucks drove up the mountain. He warned that the situation remains just as bad down the mountain, in villages that have faced restrictions in water supplies for weeks now. 'Our farmers don't recall such a bad and hard year,' Filipovic said. 'People here mostly do farming and use products for own needs, for their existence. This year has brought unseen hardship for them." While a spell of rainy weather in July brought some relief, farmers say that the land is too dry deep below the surface to recover easily. Scores of small rivers, lakes and creeks that are normally used in Serbia's rural areas have dried up. In neighboring Bosnia, meteorologists have said that June this year could end up being the driest in recent history, causing huge damage in agriculture. In eastern Croatia, authorities declared emergency measures in several municipalities along the border with Hungary to deal with the effects of the drought. The country's vegetable growers have warned many could go out of business. Earlier in July, both Albania and Kosovo reported water shortages that affected also electricity production in Albania. Serbia's farmers have asked for financial help from the government, fearing poor yield, which could spike prices. Irrigation systems in the country are underdeveloped, leaving many farmers dependent on the weather. Jovica Jaksic, of the Independent Farmers' Association told the state RTS television that the damage to the corn is so big already that even if it rained for the rest of the summer, it wouldn't help. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness in parts of Europe, making the region more vulnerable to health impacts and wildfires. The EU monitoring agency found that, in Europe and globally, 2024 was the hottest year on record and the continent experienced its second-highest number of 'heat stress' days. In Serbia's northern neighbor Hungary, weather-damaged crops have dealt significant blows to the country's overall GDP. This has prompted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to announce the creation of a 'drought task force' to deal with the problem. Persistent droughts in the Great Hungarian Plain, in the country's southeast, have threatened desertification, a process where vegetation recedes due to high heat and low rainfall. The soil remains 'critically dry,' the country's meteorological service said on Thursday, warning of the negative effects on the crops.
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Rural Scots 'face major energy bills hike after RTS meter switch off'
RTS meters, which use long-wave radio signals to switch between cheaper and more expensive electricity rates remotely, are disproportionately common in off-gas-grid and rural areas. A full deactivation of the system was scheduled for June 30. But just 11 days before that deadline, the UK Government paused the planned blanket switch-off in favour of a phased approach, citing the fact that 314,000 households across the UK – including 105,000 in Scotland – were still using the meters. READ MORE: Dr Ron Mould: RTS switch-off will put vulnerable Scots at risk The Scottish Government had raised concerns that the shutdown could disrupt heating and hot water systems for those still relying on RTS meters, while potentially triggering steep hikes in energy costs. However, Shetland resident John Inkster said he is already feeling the impact after being moved off the RTS system by provider EDF Energy. He described the resulting rise in bills as 'unjust' and said it flies in the face of assurances given by Ofgem, the energy regulator. Ofgem has stated that consumers should be left 'no worse off' as a result of switching away from RTS meters. But Inkster said that for islanders like him – living in areas without access to mains gas – the reality is starkly different. 'I think we spend about £4000 a year heating our house at the moment, before the RTS meter changeover,' he said. 'I imagine that might go to £6000. 'You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out that people are going to be completely fleeced here.' READ MORE: John Swinney: Labour are ruling out all options to reduce energy bills Before the switch, Inkster had two meters: one charging 27p per unit of electricity for standard use (lights, appliances, sockets), and another offering a reduced 15p tariff for heating and hot water. Since EDF replaced his system, most of his heating, except for storage heaters and a portion of water heating, is charged at the higher rate. Based on his calculations, the change equates to a 74% increase in costs on around half of his heating and hot water use. That could see his annual bill rise from £4000 to around £5500. 'There are a lot of people who don't understand this who have it in their house, to be honest with you,' he said. 'It is a bit complicated. 'But it doesn't take any kind of a genius at all to work out that customers will be much, much worse off.' He went on: 'It's said people are dying in Scotland in the cold because they can't afford to heat their homes. You hear that, don't you? 'Well, how is this going to affect those statistics? Improve them or make them worse?' Inkster said he was aware of other Shetlanders who had already 'torn panel heaters out of their houses' in response to the soaring cost of using them under the new tariffs. He warned that many affected households might only realise the full extent of the change when their winter energy bills arrive. The Shetlander has enlisted the help of his local MP, LibDem Alistair Carmichael, who has written to EDF chief executive Simone Rossi with his concerns. The LibDem MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael (Image: UK Parliament/PA Wire) 'Ofgem has stated that energy companies should give equivalent tariffs to RTS customers so that no one is left worse off as a result of switching,' the MP said. 'At best, what EDF is doing goes against the spirit of that commitment – at worst, it looks like an active attempt to evade the new rules. Ofgem and the Government must come down hard on this sly behaviour.' EDF did not respond to the Sunday National's request for comment. A spokesperson for Ofgem said: 'We have made clear to suppliers that we expect them to treat customers fairly – not only in terms of shielding households from unnecessary costs but also offering the same or similar tariffs after their RTS meter has been upgraded. 'It is crucial that customers are protected at every stage of the phased shutdown, and we are spelling out to suppliers key requirements that must be met before an area loses its RTS signal. 'While this carefully managed phaseout process should reassure customers, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently so it's vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment.'
