Author: Biotech Express

An HIV vaccine candidate developed at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute triggered low levels of an elusive type of broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies among a small group of people enrolled in a 2019 clinical trial. The finding, reported May 17 in the journal Cell, not only provides proof that a vaccine can elicit these antibodies to fight diverse strains of HIV, but that it can also initiate the process within weeks, setting in motion an essential immune response. The vaccine candidate targets an area on the HIV-1 outer envelope called the membrane proximal external region (MPER), which remains stable even…

The first person to publicly release the genome sequence of the virus that causes COVID-19 — virologist Zhang Yongzhen — seems to have resolved a public dispute with the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (SPHCC), Fudan University, China, which erupted last week. According to social-media posts on Zhang’s personal Weibo account, which have since been removed, the institute gave the research team two days to leave, but the SPHCC did not initially specify to where they should relocate. Later, Zhang said that officials told his team to move to a lab that did not have the necessary biosafety conditions to…

MAY 03, 2024 Days after AstraZeneca acknowledged that its COVID vaccine can lead to a rare blood clot side effect, the parents of a young woman who allegedly died after being given Covishield are planning to sue the British pharma giant and world’s largest vaccine maker. The development comes after AstraZeneca admitted in the UK court that their vaccine can cause rare side effects that can lead to blood clots and low platelet count. Notably, while AstraZeneca developed the COVID-19 vaccine, it was manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII) under the name ‘Covishield’. The vaccine was…

Biological E. Limited (BE), a Hyderabad-based Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Company, announced the publication of Phase-III clinical trials results of BE’s 14-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) (PNEUBEVAX 14TM; BE-PCV-14) conducted in paediatric population (6-8-week age group). The study results have been accepted and published by Vaccine, a reputed peer-reviewed international journal. In this study, the immunogenicity and safety of the BE’s 14-Valent PCV containing two additional epidemiologically important serotypes (22F and 33F) were evaluated in infants, in comparison to the licensed comparator vaccine PCV-13. This was a pivotal Phase-III single blind randomized active-controlled study conducted at 12 sites across India in…

By Kamal Pratap Singh, Managing Editor, Biotech Express E-mail- kamal9871@gmail.com Finally, AstraZeneca has accepted in UK court that it’s vaccine could have caused blood clots in rare cases. The word rare here has been cautiously used to show that the numbers of events are negligible. In court documents from February, AstraZeneca denied that “TTS is caused by the vaccine at a generic level”. However, it admitted to the possibility of TTS as a result of its vaccination in “very rare cases”. Biotech Express probably is the only magazine around the world which has covered all news of adverse events and…

The first study of the use of microarray patches to vaccinate children has shown that the method is safe and induces strong immune responses. The phase 1/2 randomized trial compared results from the measles and rubella vaccine delivered by a microarray patch, a small sticking plaster-like device with an array of microscopic projections that painlessly penetrate the skin and deliver the vaccine, or by conventional injection with a needle and syringe. The trial, which involved 45 adults (18-40 years old), 120 toddlers (15-18 months old) and 120 infants (9-10 months old) in The Gambia, found giving the measles and rubella…

Kavitha Malarvizhi, Deepak Agarwal* Institute of Fisheries Postgraduate Studies, TNJFU, OMR-CAMPUS, Chennai-603103 *Corresponding author: deepakbfsc@gmail.com Abstract: We currently reside amid a profound technological revolution that is reshaping the global landscape. Evident transformations encompass a wide spectrum of facets within our daily lives, encompassing fields such as transportation, healthcare, and communication. As per the timeless adage, what was once considered science fiction in the past has now become a reality in the realm of science. Today, we are witnessing an expansive augmentation of our capacities across diverse scientific domains, which include chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering. This expansion encompasses endeavours such…

The “Textbook of Nutritional Biochemistry” published by Springer Nature, was launched on April 10, 2024 in the University of Delhi South Campus. The textbook is written by the teachers of the University of Delhi for the students of the universities; namely Prof. Darshan Malik (Shivaji College), Dr. Nandita Narayanasamy (Sri Venkateswara College), Dr. V. A. Pratyusha (Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women), Dr. Jayita Thakur (Shivaji College) and Dr. Nimisha Sinha (Sri Venkateswara College). The event was graced by dignitaries like Padma Shri Prof. S. K. Sopory, former VC, JNU; Prof. Shri Prakash Singh; Director, South Campus; Prof.…

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a web-based platform that offers an unprecedented view of the human body at the cellular level. The aim is to create an invaluable resource for researchers worldwide to increase knowledge about human health and disease. The study is published in Genome Biology. Simultaneous measurement of numerous biomolecular variables, known as multi-omics, enables deep and comprehensive profiling of human biology. The new Single Cell Atlas (SCA) is based on analyses of thousands of human tissue samples from 125 different adult and fetal tissues. The researchers combined eight cutting-edge omics technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing, whole-genome…

Moolec Science SA (NASDAQ: MLEC; “The company”), a Molecular Farming food-ingredient company, announced today that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) has concluded its Regulatory Status Review (“RSR”) for Moolec’s genetically engineered (“GE”) soybean Piggy Sooy™. The USDA-APHIS RSR determines that Moolec’s genetically engineered soybean, accumulating animal meat protein, is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk relative to non-engineered soybeans. Therefore, it is not subject to the APHIS regulation that governs the movement of organisms modified or produced through genetic engineering (as described in 7 CFR part 340). This…