Science Stories

  The recent outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan has infected thousands of people, especially in China. As of till now 30,00 confirmed cases have been reported in mainland China. Additionally, imported cases of coronavirus were identified in many other countries including Thailand, Japan, South Korea, United States, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, India, France, Australia, and Canada. The cause of the outbreak has been named novel coronavirus (2019- nCoV ). This virus belongs to the same family as SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV) which cause epidemic and killed many in the early 2000s. The virus is spreading everywhere infecting thousands of innocent people. But there is no drug available for treatment. Scientists around the globe are working their best to develop a drug for the  treatment of infected patients. The quickest solution is to check whether we can treat patients using the drugs that are currently  available for treating other viral infecti

  Human gut microbiome                                                   The researchers found that manipulation of gut microbiota of  mice  shows a significant difference in learning in comparison with a mouse of the normal gut. Microbiota  refers to a complex consortium of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In mammals,  they have found changes in microbiota composition  to influence many physiologic processes such as development, metabolism, and immunity. Changes in the composition of microbiota can also modulate the behavior of the host—such as  social  activity, stress, and anxiety-related responses - that  are linked  to diverse neuropsychiatric disorders. However, one question remains enigmatic to the neuroscientist. How does the microbiota influence the neuronal activity and the behavior of the host? The research: They show that manipulation of the gut microbiota of adult mice results in significant deficits in fear extinction learning. First, the a

                           Dr. M.K. Bhan addressing a Press Conference to apprise on the two significant R&D results emanating from DBT support, in New Delhi on May 31, 2012. The scientist who developed India’s first indigenous vaccine dies at 72. He was born in 1947, the year when India got independence and he passes away on 26th January, when India was celebrating its 71st Republic day.  He was destined  to be part of the country’s history. Maharaj Kishan Bhan is an Indian pediatrician and clinical scientist who developed the vaccine for rotavirus, the first indigenous vaccine produced in the country. He was born on 9th  November 1947. He completed his MBBS degree from AFMC, Pune and M.D. Degree from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. As a faculty in AIIMS, Delhi he worked extensively on childhood diarrhea and nutrition. Childhood diarrhea  is caused  by rotavirus infection. The infection kills at least 100,000 children every year. It