Current Affairs - Science

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, belongs to the family Poxviridae and is classified as a DNA virus. DNA viruses like Mpox have double-stranded DNA as their genetic material, and they exhibit specific characteristics in terms of replication and infection mechanisms compared to RNA viruses or other types of viruses.

India ranks second globally in Hepatitis B and C cases, with 3.5 crore infections, as per the WHO's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report. This ranking highlights the significant health challenges posed by Hepatitis and the need for public health interventions.

The PRATUSH project involves the development of a high-resolution telescope, aiming to study the reionization era of the universe by capturing signals from hydrogen and offering insights into cosmic evolution. This telescope, named PRATUSH, will be deployed on the moon's far side after initial adjustments and fine-tuning in Earth's orbit, enabling astronomers to detect signals emitted by the first stars and galaxies, answering fundamental questions about the early universe.

Bharat Biotech, founded by Krishna Ella in 1996 and headquartered in Hyderabad, has initiated clinical trials for the Tuberculosis Vaccine "MTBVAC," which is the first vaccine against Tuberculosis derived from a human source by the Spanish bio-pharmaceutical company, Biofabri.

The Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) transferred a revolutionary swine fever vaccine technology to BioMed Pvt. Ltd., specializing in vaccine manufacturing. This technology, based on a recombinant vector vaccine, targets the classical swine fever virus and represents a significant advancement in India's vaccine capabilities for the livestock sector.