Recently there has been intense fighting between the Taliban forces and NRF guerillas in and around Panjshir and Andarab valley in North Afghanistan. NRF claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban. 

Resistance Have Presence in Most Parts of Afghanistan: NRF

New Delhi (The Hawk): Government is aware about the challenges posed by anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in India and has taken following measures to address the issue:AMR surveillance network has been strengthened by establishing labs in State Medical College. 36 sites in 26 States/UTs have been included in this network so far.National action plan on containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) focusing on One Health approach was launched in April 2017 with the aim of involving various stakeholder ministries/departments. Delhi Declaration on AMR– an inter-ministerial consensus was signed by the ministers of the concerned ministries pledging their support in AMR containment.AMR Surveillance Network: ICMR has established AMR surveillance and research network (AMRSN) comprising 30 tertiary care hospitals, both private and government to generate evidence and capture trends and patterns of drug resistant infections in the country.AMR Research &amp; International Collaboration: ICMR has taken initiatives to develop new drugs /medicines through international collaborations in order to strengthen medical research in AMR.ICMR along with Research Council of Norway (RCN) initiated a joint call for research in antimicrobial resistance in 2017.ICMR along with Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany has a joint Indo-German collaboration for research on AMR.Government of India has taken following initiatives to increase awareness about antibiotics misuse:ICMR has initiated antibiotic stewardship program (AMSP) on a pilot project basis in 20 tertiary care hospitals across India to control misuse and overuse of antibiotics in hospital wards and ICUs.DCGI has banned 40 fixed dose combinations (FDCs) which were found inappropriate.ICMR worked in collaboration with Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries and the DCGI to ban use of Colistin as growth promoter in animal feed in poultry.Various IEC activities like public conclave, poster and quiz competitions have been conducted by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in schools, colleges and Health melas to create awareness about AMR, its containment &amp; prevention and judicial use of antibiotics among the common public.To raise awareness among the community and the health care providers, communication material includes posters, videos and radio jingles has been developed with emphasis on prevention of irrational use of antibiotics during viral-illnesses and also on infection prevention through hand hygiene to prevent spread of infections.The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

 Government is aware about the challenges posed by anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in India and has taken following measures to address the issue:AMR surveillance network has been strengthened by establishing labs in State Medical College. 36 sites in 26 States/UTs have been included in this network so far.

Measures Taken To Address Challenges Posed By Anti-Microbial Resistance In India 

Washington: With antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the rise, scientists have been searching for ways to shut down the Type IV secretion system (T4SS), a protein complex on the outer envelope of bacterial cells that helps them to exchange DNA with neighbouring bacteria and resist antibiotics.
Now a collaboration between UT Southwestern computational biologist Qian Cong, PhD, and molecular biologists at the University of London has elucidated the structure of the T4SS complex, providing a blueprint that could help researchers design drugs that slow the development of antibiotic resistance. Their findings were published in Nature.
"For the first time, we determined the 3D structure of the entire T4SS complex," said Dr. Cong, Assistant Professor of Biophysics and in the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development at UTSW.
The team in London was led by Gabriel Waksman, Ph.D., whose lab has been working for more than two decades to understand T4SS, especially how it forms a thin, hollow structure called a pilus, which connects to nearby bacteria to share genes. For this project, his team used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) -- a process that freezes proteins and uses beams of electrons to obtain high-resolution microscopic images -- to elucidate the structure of T4SS. This was no small feat since the T4SS complex is larger than 99.6% of all those included to date in the worldwide library of protein structures.
Dr. Cong then used her background in statistics and machine learning to analyze T4SS protein sequences from several bacteria to generate structural predictions, which were compared to the cryo-EM data. Her computational analysis supported the cryo-EM data and suggested a hypothesis about the function of T4SS. While it was already known that T4SS is involved in pilus assembly, she predicted how it occurs. With that prediction in hand, Dr. Waksman's team was able to make specific mutations within the relevant pieces of the complex and validate Dr. Cong's hypothesis in live bacteria. "In addition to the contribution we have made toward the development of drugs to slow the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, this study showcases the power of modern computational methods to validate experimental results and suggest functional insights beyond available experimental data," said Dr. Cong, a Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research. —ANI

With antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the rise, scientists have been searching for ways to shut down the Type IV secretion system (T4SS), a protein complex on the outer envelope of bacterial cells that helps them to exchange DNA with neighbouring bacteria and resist antibiotics.

Scientists Determine Structure Of Key Player In Antibiotic Resistance

Washington: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has become aware of the value of using sewage analyses to monitor disease development in an area. However, at DTU National Food Institute, a group of researchers has been using sewage monitoring from throughout the world since 2016 as an effective and inexpensive tool for monitoring infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
By analysing sewage samples received by DTU from 243 cities in 101 countries between 2016 and 2019, the researchers have now mapped where in the world the occurrence of resistance genes is highest, how the genes are located, and in which types of bacteria they are found.
The results from the new metagenomic study -- which have just been published in Nature Communications -- have surprised the researchers. In fact, the study shows that the genes have appeared in many different genetic contexts and bacterial types, indicating greater transmission than the researchers had expected.
"We've found similar resistance genes in highly different bacterial types. We find it worrying when genes can pass from a very broad group of bacteria to a completely different group with which there is no resemblance. It's rare for these gene transmissions to occur over such long distances. It's a bit like very different animal species producing offspring," explains Assistant Professor Patrick Munk.
If the genes are in bacteria that don't usually make people sick -- such as lactic acid bacteria -- it's of less concern. However, if the resistance genes find their way into bacteria that are important to human health -- such as salmonella -- it's a completely different story.
"This makes it much more likely that the bacteria will actually kill people -- for example in a hospital -- because no treatment is available," emphasizes Patrick Munk.
Hotspots for transmission of resistance genes
In different places in Sub-Saharan Africa, the researchers have found the same resistance gene in a number of different bacteria.
"We interpret this to mean that we may be quite close to a transmission hotspot, where there is a gene transmission from one to another to a third bacterium. That's why we're seeing the gene in so many different contexts precisely there," Patrick Munk explains.
He adds that many of the surprising transmissions appear to occur in the Sub-Saharan Africa. These are also countries with the least developed programmes for monitoring resistance, which means that there is very little data on the resistance situation. "We risk overlooking important trends because we don't have data," he suggests, stressing that solid data is exactly what is needed to develop effective strategies for combating resistance:
"Right now, we have huge knowledge about how resistance behaves in the West and -- based on that knowledge -- we plan how to combat resistance. It now turns out that if we look at some new locations, the resistance genes may behave very differently -- presumably because they have more favourable transmission conditions. Therefore, the way in which you combat resistance must also be adjusted and tailored to the local conditions." —ANI

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has become aware of the value of using sewage analyses to monitor disease development in an area. 

Study Shows New And More Detailed World Map Of Antimicrobial Resistance

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized six shops belonging to terrorist Fayaz Ahmad Khan in Lethpora, Kashmir, in connection with a militant attack on the CRPF Group Centre on December 2017.

The attack claimed the lives of five soldiers and three militants.

Khan was arrested by the NIA following a massive raid in Jammu and Kashmir in May 2022 along with Muzamil Mushtaq Bhat.

"Bhat and Khan, the two workers of The Resistance Front (TRF), were in contact with their Pakistan-based handlers for providing logistic support for terrorist activities, spreading terrorist propaganda, radicalising and recruiting new members of the banned outfit," an NIA official said.

The TRF is an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group.

The official added that the TRF and its self-styled commander Sajjad Gul have been actively radicalising, motivating and recruiting youth of Jammu and Kashmir for indulging in violent activities.

He along with his other associate commanders of LeT based in Pakistan, have been recruiting individuals to conduct reconnaissance of pre-determined targets, coordinating and transporting ammunition, explosives in order to launch attacks on the security forces and execute targeted killings. IANS

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized six shops belonging to terrorist Fayaz Ahmad Khan in Lethpora, Kashmir, in connection with a militant attack on the CRPF Group Centre on December 2017.

NIA seizes 6 shops of terrorist Fayaz Ahmad Khan in Kashmir

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized six shops belonging to terrorist Fayaz Ahmad Khan in Lethpora, Kashmir, in connection with a militant attack on the CRPF Group Centre on December 2017.


Texas: According to new research from Ghent, Belgium, intravenous treatment with MK-3402, a metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitor, can be a successful technique in combating antimicrobial resistance. The findings will be presented at ASM Microbe 2023, the American Society for Microbiology's annual meeting. Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to public health. Some bacteria are resistant to treatment because they produce the enzyme metallo-beta-lactamase, which make a certain class of antibacterial drugs called beta-lactams ineffective. MK-3402 is designed to block metallo-beta-lactamase enzymes, so that if it is administered as treatment with an antibacterial drug (and another type of blocking drug against other types of beta-lactamase enzymes made by bacteria), the antibacterial drug will still be able to work against bacteria that are otherwise resistant. Two studies were done with MK-3402 and a placebo, with different dosages and number of doses given between the studies. Neither the participants nor the study staff knew which participants were receiving the study drug or placebo. Safety was monitored by checking results of blood tests, electrocardiograms, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, breathing rate and participant-reported side effects. The blood levels of MK-3402 measured in these studies suggest that dosing three times per day should provide adequate MK-3402 blood levels to block bacterial metallo-beta-lactamase. However, larger studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MK-3402 in combination with other antibacterial agents. The studies were funded, designed, and sponsored by Merck, and took place at Drug Research Unit Ghent, a clinical trial site in Belgium. —ANI

According to new research from Ghent, Belgium, intravenous treatment with MK-3402, a metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitor

Treatment With Enzyme Inhibitor May Help Combat Antimicrobial Resistance: Research

Hong Kong: Chairman Xi Jinping possibly thought China would continue its upward trajectory indefinitely. After all, he muses in the socialist ideology that bears his immortal name, the West is in decline and China is on the rise. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is facing all sorts of unexpected setbacks and challenges that threaten to derail its narrative of inevitable pre-eminence. Even if China continues to push the boundaries of belligerence - with excessive territorial claims in the South China Sea, taunting Japan in the East China Sea, testing Indian limits along their shared border, dispatching high-altitude balloons around the globe to gather intelligence, promoting Russia's cause against Ukraine, setting up illegal police stations overseas, pressurizing Taiwan with military coercion, and interfering in foreign governments and societies - there is evidence it is resorting to a centuries-old practice of putting up walls to ring fence the Middle Kingdom and keep its inhabitants "safe" from outside influence. As Western fears grow about Chairman Xi Jinping's pathway to militancy and hyper-nationalism, China's answer, like that of any communist or totalitarian regime, is to enact ever-tighter laws to control its people and deter foreign influence. Thus, China amended its Counterespionage Law on 1 July, broadening the definition of espionage and banning the transfer of "national security" information. China's concept of security comprises 16 broad areas, with political security -maintaining regime stability and CCP supremacy - is the overarching one. Chinese security includes: territorial (protecting borders and territorial integrity); military (defending against military attack, prevailing in conflicts); economic (protect economic stability and development); cultural (preventing harmful ideologies and thinking); societal (maintain public security and societal control); tech (develop science and technology, control new technologies); cybersecurity (maintain information control, defend against cyberattacks); ecological (protect ecosystems); resource (preserve access to natural reserves); nuclear (ensure normal operation and prevent accidents); biosecurity (protects against risks, including epidemics); space (maintain access to outer space); polar (maintain access to polar regions); deep sea (ensure access to the seabed); and security of overseas interests (protect citizens and assets abroad, guarantee access to trade routes). With such a comprehensive approach, is it possible to contemplate any realm that does not pertain to China's security? Foreign journalists working in China, for example, are extremely concerned about the law changes. Newsgathering there could be construed as a violation of the law, such as accessing "documents, data, materials or items related to national security and interests". As Hong Kong's experience demonstrates, the beauty of enacting wide-ranging and ambiguous laws is that the government can use them however it wants to stifle dissent. Mao Ning, the spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, reassured, "There is no need to associate the Counterespionage Law with reporting activities of foreign journalists. China always welcomes media outlets and journalists of all countries to conduct interviews and run stories in China in accordance with laws and regulations." Mao noted, "As long as one abides by laws and regulations, there is no need to worry." Such circular logic assures nobody. These laws are vague, in essence making them incredibly restrictive since they can be interpreted at the whim of the government and its puppet courts. This law was already opaque, and it becomes even more so with the latest amendments. Penalties are harsh, ranging up to life imprisonment or even death sentences. Reporters Without Borders already ranks China 179th out of 180 countries for press freedom. Only North Korea scores lower. The US National Counterintelligence and Security Center warned that the law gives Beijing "expanded legal grounds for accessing and controlling data held by US firms in China". This year alone, Chinese agencies have raided the foreign-owned due diligence company Mintz Group and the consulting firm Bain and Company. This whole-of-society approach to national security will affect foreign businesses operating in China, and will also reduce interaction between Chinese citizens and foreigners. Fewer than 0.05% of residents in China are foreigners. This compares to 2% for South Korea and Japan, both of which are remarkably homogenous populations. By comparison, 7.1% of US residents are non-citizens, and another 6% are naturalized citizens. This pitifully low level of China's popularity as a place to live is due to bureaucracy, xenophobia and a pervasive security state. Yet Xi does not mind, for his goal is to insulate his nation, to scrub away foreign influences and to mold the populace into pliable putty in his hands. This amended law is a tweak rather than a course change, although Xi has departed from predecessors by rolling development and security together, rather than chasing merely development. Last September, the Germany-based Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) published findings on China's comprehensive national security policy. It noted, "Xi Jinping has turned national security into a key paradigm that permeates all aspects of China's governance ... This new focus on keeping China safe is driven by perceptions of internal and external threats. It also serves as a strategy to hedge legitimacy risks and ensure continued support for the CCP's rule as China shifts away from a development-first model." MERICS continued: "Xi's quest for a comprehensive national security formula has reshaped China's policymaking. The result is a state of hyper-vigilance with wide- reaching effects on state-society relations, China's economic growth model and how the leadership enforces its interests abroad." It also warned that the "securitization of everything" will likely accelerate. "The all- encompassing national security mindset is increasingly locking China into certain modes of action. By priming officials and citizens to be ever alert to potential threats, pragmatism has given way to ideology, heightening the risk of overreaction and arbitrariness. This 'securitization of everything' extends beyond Xi's tenure and will continue to define China's domestic and international behavior until there is a substantial ideological shift. This new paradigm implies clear - and new - risks and challenges for governments, businesses and non-state actors engaging with China." Another new regulation is the Foreign Relations Law, which gives Xi unheralded powers. Beijing can use domestic law to retaliate against foreign sanctions and to deter future provocations. The law, also enacted on 1 July, will punish any entity that acts in a way "detrimental" to Chinese interests.  The Global Times described it as a "key step to enrich the legal toolbox against Western hegemony". Interpreted, it is yet another instrument of coercion for the Chinese government against any obstacle in its way. It will presumably have the unintended step of causing foreign businesses to reconsider involvement in the Chinese market, as the authorities can raid and investigate their businesses. Xi is surely aware of negative impacts on foreign investment, but his ambition is to shore up his and the CCP's rule. Any price is worth that, in his calculus. However, a number of Chinese are increasingly uncomfortable about the direction Xi is taking the country. Last year, some 10,800 high-net-worth individuals (i.e. millionaires and billionaires) departed China for good. This year, the number is forecast to be even higher, with advisory firm Henley &amp;amp; Partners estimating China will lose 13,500 such individuals and with outflows "more damaging than usual". The Chinese economy is suffering terribly. Young people are confronting record unemployment in the wake of COVID-19, with little sympathy from the government either. Xi instructed them not to think themselves above doing manual work, moving to the countryside or learning to "eat bitterness". Indeed, on Youth Day on 4 May, Xi mentioned "eat bitterness" no fewer than five times in a People's Daily article.  Over the past three years, 54 million jobs were lost in China. Of these, 15 million are college graduates unable to find work, 21 million were laid off by corporations, and eight million were forced out of cities by the pandemic. In 2022, a staggering 10% of Chinese small-to-medium enterprises closed. Meanwhile, the average number of employees at A-share listed companies shrank 11.9% compared to pre-pandemic times. The private sector is the main driver of job growth; last year the government and state-owned enterprises offered just 860,000 jobs, equating to just 5% of fresh graduates. A record 11.6 million college graduates will enter China's workforce in 2023. Already, one in five young people are unemployed, and youth unemployment will likely rise by five million annually over the coming five years. This could mean 50 million unemployed youths in China by 2028. This is dangerous for the CCP, for idle and disaffected young people could prove an existential threat. Dr. Bill Overholt, a senior research fellow at Harvard University, commented: "Now I believe that on its current trajectory China will, by the end of this decade, become the slowest-growing major economy ... The geopolitical consequences are vast. The domestic consequences are vast, but unknowable." There is great uncertainty for Xi and his undisputed rule. COVID-19, for example, was a black swan event not on Xi's agenda. This outbreak that brought the globe to a grinding halt originated in Wuhan. Amidst Beijing's vehement denials of culpability, the CCP made hay with medical diplomacy as it donated personal protective equipment and vaccines. However, China's own people finally spontaneously rebelled against the draconian restrictions and lockdowns imposed by Xi. With a snap of the fingers, the Chinese government reversed a years-long policy and let COVID-19 loose on an unprepared population. The world will never know how many died in that sudden plague, but it would have been hundreds of thousands. In a master stroke, the CCP completely undid its narrative that it was all-wise and all-powerful. Xi and the CCP will double down on ideological indoctrination at home, for this is its only option in the face of growing anger and criticism overseas. This is the oath that the CCP's nearly 100 million members swear when they join the CCP: "It is my will to join the Communist Party of China, uphold the party's program, observe the provisions of the Party Constitution, fulfil the obligations of a party member, carry out the party's decisions, strictly observe party discipline, protect party secrets, be loyal to the party, work hard, fight for communism for the rest of my life, always be prepared to sacrifice my all for the party and the people, and never betray the party." Note the repetition of "party, party, party". In fact, the party appears an astonishing ten times in one sentence, while the "people" are mentioned just once. It is obvious that the "people" do not get a look in in the CCP - it is all about sustaining and advancing the party. It may be technically called the People's Republic of China, but the harsh reality is that it is the party's China.  In a candid moment, President Joe Biden recently described Xi as a "dictator". Beijing may have reacted badly to this, but the label is perfectly accurate. In fact, Article 1 of the Constitution states: "The People's Republic of China is a socialist state under the people's democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants." Of course, much of this is convoluted, for what is a "democratic dictatorship"? Regardless, the working class certainly does not lead China, for power is instead cultivated, controlled and amassed by party elites. Another event causing concern for Xi will be tsar Vladimir Putin's prolonged and unwinnable war in Ukraine. Although it is keeping the USA and NATO occupied, Xi will be ruing how Putin has painted himself into a corner. Score one for the West, and one against authoritarian regimes. After China's muted support for Putin during the Wagner revolt, Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institute commented: "There were no visible signs of China rushing to Russia's defense, and no signals of support from Xi to Russian President Vladimir Putin ... Regardless of whether Putin regains tight control of Russia's levers of ower, Russia clearly is not the strong power that Xi placed a big bet on when Putin visited Beijing in February 2022." Hass continued: "No amount of censorship and propaganda will conceal Xi's strategic misjudgment. To guard against criticism, Beijing likely will assert tighter control over society through surveillance and repression. The CCP will intensify its indoctrination efforts around 'Xi Jinping thought'. And Beijing will intensify its efforts to limit the emergence of any alternate power centers inside China." As is China's wont for most of its history, Xi is increasingly turning China's focus inwards. He wants to make the country less dependent on outsiders, to control the people's thinking, to demand their loyalty and to wean them off foreign influence. Amendments to the Counter espionage Law simply underscore how Emperor Xi is building Great Wall 2.0 around his empire. —ANI

Chairman Xi Jinping possibly thought China would continue its upward trajectory indefinitely. After all

China Circles The Wagons As Resistance Abroad Intensifies

Washington: Russia is holding "sham elections" in the occupied region of Ukraine, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said adding that this action shows its blatant disregard for UN Charter principles.  In a statement released by the State Department, Blinken said, "The Russian Federation is in the process of conducting sham elections in occupied areas of Ukraine. These so-called elections are taking place nearly one year after the Kremlin staged sham referenda and purported to annex Ukraine’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, and over nine years after Russia purported to annexe Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol."  "The Kremlin hopes these pre-determined, fabricated results will strengthen Russia’s illegitimate claims to the parts of Ukraine it occupies, but this is nothing more than a propaganda exercise," he added.  He further stated that such action by Russia shows its blatant disregard for UN Charter principles like respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, which underpin global security and stability, as per the statement.  "The United States will never recognize the Russian Federation’s claims to any of Ukraine’s sovereign territory, and we remind any individuals who may support Russia’s sham elections in Ukraine, including by acting as so-called “international observers,” that they may be subject to sanctions and visa restrictions," Blinken said.  This statement came after the voting ends on Thursday and will run through the weekend in certain areas, according to US media, The Hill reported.  On August 31, Russia started holding regional elections in “occupied areas” of Ukraine, CNN reported citing Kyiv officials.  Ukraine has condemned the move and has urged citizens in “occupied areas” not to vote in upcoming elections planned by Russian-appointed officials, adding they should "leave the region" if possible.  "Russians have started holding 'elections' to pseudo-local councils and 'legislative bodies' in the temporarily occupied territories," CNN quoted Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC), an official agency, as saying.  The “Occupation authorities” were planning "early voting" in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions through September 8 at people's homes, the NRC added.  The voting will begin in Kherson and Luhansk on September 2, CNN reported.“We urge Ukrainians not to open their doors to the occupiers and, if possible, to leave the region or their homes for the period of 'early voting’”, NRC stated.  Voting will then take place at polling stations between September 8 and 10."The Russians need this long scheme to hide the turnout and the lack of interest of the locals in the 'expression of will,'" the Ukrainian agency further added. —ANI

Russia is holding "sham elections" in the occupied region of Ukraine, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said adding that this action shows its blatant 

Russia Conducting ‘Sham Elections’ In Occupied Areas Of Ukraine: Blinken

Jodhpur: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur have used snake venom to develop a novel antimicrobial peptide molecule that can kill bacteria like E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) — all known to create deadly infections.
Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a prevailing global menace that scientists must tackle worldwide.
Most naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides have varying hydrophobicities and charge compositions, limiting their use as human therapeutic molecules despite their potent bacteria-killing ability.
The antimicrobial peptide SP1V3_1 can therapeutically be implemented as a component of an ointment for wound disinfection and healing. It can be biocompatible based on in-vitro cytotoxicity studies.
The researchers’ main aim was to reduce toxicity of the snake venom without losing its antimicrobial property. For that, the scientists truncated the snake venom peptide and eliminated the toxic part of snake venom and further stitched helical short peptide at N-terminus (the end with a free amino group) for the smooth entry of the newly designed therapeutic inside the bacterial cell.
The invented peptide also holds the potential to be developed into a marketable pharmaceutical product, said researchers in the paper published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
“In the era of developmental stagnation of antibiotics due to the ever-increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial peptides are exciting leads in the development of novel biocidal agents. The invented antimicrobial peptide SP1V3_1 holds the potential to be developed into a marketable pharmaceutical product, as and when it passes the requisite trials,” said Dr. Surajit Ghosh, Professor, Department of Bioscience &amp; Bioengineering and Smart Healthcare Department, IIT Jodhpur, in a statement.
“The peptide can therapeutically be implemented as a component of an ointment (alone or in combination with other drugs/peptides) for wound disinfection and healing, as an injectable/oral drug for systemic administration, or as an aerosolised formulation to treat a wide range of respiratory bacterial pathogens,” he added.
—IANS

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur have used snake venom to develop a novel antimicrobial peptide molecule

IIT Jodhpur researchers turn to snake venom to fight antibiotic resistance

London: A new research published by Oxford University Press in Genome Biology and Evolution suggests that rapid evolution in bats may explain the animals' unique capacity to host and survive infections as well as avoid cancer. Bats are unique among mammals not just for their ability to fly, but also for their long lifespans, low cancer rates, and robust immune systems. Bats are also suspected to have had a role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The ability of bats to tolerate viral infections may be due to peculiar aspects of their innate immune response. These characteristics make bats an interesting animal to investigate, because they may have implications for human health. For example, by better understanding the mechanisms of the bat immune system that allow bats to tolerate viral infections, researchers may be better able to prevent disease outbreaks from animals to people. Comparative genomic analyses of bats and cancer-susceptible mammals may eventually provide new information on the causes of cancer and the links between cancer and immunity. Studies of bats and other organisms complement studies based on mouse models; mice are more amenable than bats to experimental manipulation but exhibit fewer characteristics with implications for human disease. Here researchers using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read platform, and bat samples collected with help from the American Museum of Natural History in Belize, sequenced the genomes of two bat species, the Jamaican fruit bat and the Mesoamerican mustached bat, and carried out a comprehensive comparative genomic analysis with a diverse collection of bats and other mammals. The researchers found genetic adaptations in six DNA repair-related proteins and 46 proteins in bats that were cancer-related, meaning that researchers have previously found such proteins suppress cancer. Notably, the study found these altered cancer-related genes were enriched more than two-fold in the bat group compared to other mammals. “By generating these new bat genomes and comparing them to other mammals we continue to find extraordinary new adaptations in antiviral and anticancer genes,” said the paper’s lead author, Armin Scheben. “These investigations are the first step towards translating research on the unique biology of bats into insights relevant to understanding and treating ageing and diseases, such as cancer, in humans.” —ANI

A new research published by Oxford University Press in Genome Biology and Evolution suggests that rapid evolution in bats may explain

Study Finds How Bats Evolved To Avoid Cancer

Rishikesh (The Hawk): An important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Prof Meenu Singh, Executive Director AIIMS, Rishikesh during a special ceremony. The MOU underscores AIIMS RISHIKESH's commitment to fostering partnerships for research, education, and awareness campaigns related to antibiotic resistance in collaboration with SASPI. It also emphasizes the IAS foundation course, to create awareness about antimicrobial resistance and provide skills to first-contact physicians and help them to play their role in containing antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial stewardship; infection prevention and control; and diagnostic stewardship. The World Antibiotic Awareness Week celebrations at AIIMS RISHIKESH serve as a beacon of awareness and a call to action for healthcare professionals and the community alike. As antibiotic resistance continues to pose a global threat, institutions like AIIMS RISHIKESH play a pivotal role in spearheading initiatives that promote responsible antibiotic use and elevate the standard of healthcare. It is noteworthy that AIIMS Rishikesh is gearing up for a week-long celebration of World Antibiotic Awareness Week, emphasizing the critical need for global awareness and responsible use of antibiotics. The event, taking place from November 18th to 24th, promises to be a pivotal moment in the institution's commitment to healthcare excellence. A significant highlight of the week took place on 16th November 2023 where key stakeholders, medical experts, and administrative leaders discussed strategies for combating antibiotic resistance with Prof Meenu Singh, executive director of AIIMS, Rishikesh. Dr. Meenu Singh, expressed enthusiasm about the meeting, stating, "It is imperative that we collectively address the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance. She proposed the idea to focus on artificial intelligence in antimicrobial stewardship during the meeting.  In the meeting Prof Jaya Chaturvedi, Dean academics, Dr Prasan Kumar Panda, secretary of the Society of Antimicrobial Stewardship Practice (SASPI), Dr Puneet Damijha, Dr Ambar Prasad, Dr Vanya Singh, and Dr. Biswajit Sahoo and others were present. Dr. Nusrat Shafiq, President of SASPI, enlightened upon the strategies for a foundation course on Integrated Antimicrobial Stewardship (IAS).

An important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Prof Meenu Singh,  Executive Director AIIMS, Rishikesh

AIIMS Rishikesh Signs MoU With SASPI Research, Education, Spread Awareness About Antimicrobial Resistance

Thiruvananthapuram: India ranks among countries with the highest mortality rates due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and statistics show that one child dies every nine minutes due to illnesses caused by bugs that resist antibiotics. This shocking revelation was made at a plenary session of the Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) here on Tuesday, where experts discussed the role traditional medicines can play in overcoming the threat of AMR, which is rising in almost every part of the world, prompting WHO to declare it as one of the top health threats. Speaking on the issue, Professor Thomas Rampp from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, an expert in integrative medicine, said the US and European countries also face the threat from AMR, but the risk to countries in Asia and Latin America is bigger.

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/ayur1.webp" alt="Professor Thomas Rampp" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>
 Terming resistance to antibiotics a "new phenomenon", he recalled that resistance to Penicillin was reported in 1940, though the drug was put into use by 1928. This led to the creation of newer antibiotics to overcome that, but in the last three decades, no new antibiotics have been developed and this has aggravated the problem. Professor Rampp also said the use and overuse of antibiotics are leading to their resistance. He stated that this is not limited to the medical field, as over 80 percent of the antibiotics produced in the world are used in farms and fisheries, which inevitably enter our food chain. "The reasons for resistance to antibiotics come from the overprescribing of antibiotics, patients not finishing the treatment properly, the overuse of antibiotics in livestock and fish farming, poor infection control in hospitals, and poor sanitation," he said. Prof Rampp said traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda can contribute significantly to improving the situation, as they approach problems and work to improve immunity. This can prevent illness and stop the unnecessary use of antibiotics. He pointed out that Ayurveda has always focused on providing a balanced diet, and modern science now emphasises the importance of micro biomes in the gut region, which is essential to building up immunity. Speaking on the same issue, Subarna Roy, director of ICMR National Institute of Traditional Institute in Karnataka, said their studies showed that resistance to antibiotics is different in various areas within the Karnataka state. He warned that AMR is contributing to the rise of diseases like diphtheria in some areas of India. A network of facilities established to monitor the AMR situation in India has identified about 10 pathogens that are proving to be dangerous. He said sometimes antibiotics are prescribed even though they will not cure the disease but merely reduce the symptoms. The national health policy says alternative methods to treat infectious diseases should be considered, and this is where Ayurveda can play a vital role, said Roy. "Ayurveda practitioners are already helping the fight against AMR as they treat patients without prescribing antibiotics," he said.
—IANS

India ranks among countries with the highest mortality rates due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and statistics show that one child dies every nine minutes

Antibiotic resistance kills millions in India

Imphal: The people of Manipur on Tuesday paid rich tributes to women freedom fighters who took part in 'Nupi Lal' (women's war) against colonial British actions in 1904 and 1939. The day is commemorated as Nupi (women) Lal (war) Numit (day). Chief Minister N. Biren Singh led the people in offering floral tributes to the departed women freedom fighters at the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex here. The Chief Minister said in a post on X: “Paid floral tributes and deepest respects to the Nupi Lal statue at the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex and attended the observation of Nupi Lal Numit at G.P. Women's College (Central Hall) today. “The revolt of Manipuri women during the 1st and 2nd Nupi Lal is a firm reminder of the strength and courage of Manipuri women. Historically and culturally, Manipuri women take a special place in various spheres of our civilisation. "They have been playing important roles in many issues concerning the people and are on the forefront of various social movements in the state." Recognising the sacrifice of women, Singh announced two initiatives taken up by the state government in their honour, which include the renaming of the road stretch from Governor's Traffic Point to Pureiromba Khongnangkhong as 'Nupi Lal Road', and the 'Chief Minister's Ima Nongthangleima Yaipha Tengbang Scheme'. Under the scheme, women who are above 40 years of age with no source of income and are not covered under any welfare schemes will be provided financial assistance of Rs 500 per month. Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey in a message said that the day is being observed to remember those large numbers of Manipuri women who fought against the oppressive economic and administrative policies of then Manipur Maharaja and the then British government in Manipur in 1939. On December 12, 1939, a large number of women stormed the state Durbar Office asking for immediate stoppage of rice export, in which around 21 women were seriously injured by the bayonets and butts of the soldiers' weapons. The first women's agitation was triggered by the action of Colonel Maxwell in July 1904 to reintroduce the abolished Lallup System, wherein men were required to perform free labour for 10 days after every 30 days. After the bungalows of two British officials were burnt down in 1904, Maxwell temporarily reintroduced the Lallup System to rebuild them. This move proved a misstep as the women rose up in unison to protest against the injustice of forced labour. 

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/manipur%201.webp" alt="Nupi Lal Day Manipur" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>
 After the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, Manipur came under direct British rule till 1907, when the administration was handed over to Raja Churachand Singh and his durbar. However, a British political agent was employed to oversee the functioning of the region and had powers over the royal durbar. This had major implications on the economy and trade of Manipur.
—IANS

The people of Manipur on Tuesday paid rich tributes to women freedom fighters who took part in 'Nupi Lal' (women's war)

Manipur pays rich tributes to women freedom fighters on Nupi Lal Day

New Delhi: Markets witnessed a sharp sell off on Wednesday after a positive opening. Nifty ended sharply lower and closed near the lows of the day as it finally lost 302.95 points or 1.41 per cent to close at 21,150.15.  Broad market indices like the BSE Mid Cap and Small Cap indices lost more, thereby under performing the Sensex/Nifty, says Subash Gangadharan, Senior Technical and Derivative Analyst, HDFC Securities.  Nifty has broken its previous support of 21,337 and there has also been a negative moving average crossover as the 20 period MA has moved below the 50 period MA.  Momentum readings like the 14-day RSI too have declined sharply from overbought levels indicating a loss of momentum.  This is a negative signal for the near term and it also implies that the Nifty has now entered into a short term downtrend, Gangadharan said.  Further downsides are likely once the immediate support of 21,087 is broken.  We believe that the Nifty could play down towards the next major supports at 21,026-20,769 in the coming sessions. Any pullback rallies could find resistance at 213, he added.  Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said the Nifty experienced a sharp correction as bearish sentiment persisted.  It failed to sustain above 21,500, resulting in increased call writing at the 21,500 strike, subsequently leading to a significant downturn.  At its lowest point, the Nifty dropped just below 21,100 before recovering to close above that level.  Looking ahead, there might be a consolidation phaseog for the Nifty in the near term.  Resistance is expected around 21,500, while support is anticipated at 21,100.
—IANS

Markets witnessed a sharp sell off on Wednesday after a positive opening. Nifty ended sharply lower and closed near the lows of the day

Nifty closes lower after positive opening

Los Angeles: Wastewater-derived antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) can penetrate and initially join natural biofilms after being injected into a river, a study said. Although, they may not last long, researchers reported this week in mSphere. However, as the river's temperature rises, the frequency of invasive ARGs reduces considerably, indicating that the preexisting microbial community is removing the resistant intruders. In barely two weeks, the concentration of ARGs in river water at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) returned to its initial level. The finding suggests that rivers may offer a kind of defence against the spread of ARGs in wastewater. It was also contrary to what the researchers expected. Most ARGs in wastewater originate in human faeces and thrive at the temperature of the human body, which is higher than most waterways. The microbiologists anticipated that warm rivers would be a welcome environment. "We thought they should be rather well-adapted to higher temperatures," said microbiologist Uli Klumper, PhD, at Technische Universitat Dresden's Institute of Hydrobiology. "So if river temperatures are rising with climate change, we wanted to know if these bacteria from wastewater would have an easier time integrating with the natural biofilms." Klumper co-led the study with his PhD student Kenyum Bagra, who joined TU Dresden on a DAAD exchange fellowship from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, who led the study. The work was funded through the ANTIVERSA project by BiodivERsA, a European biodiversity organization. Klumper, Bagra and their colleagues first immersed 27 glass slides in the Lockwitzbach River, in eastern Germany, for a month. "It's relatively pristine," Klumper said. They collected the slides, which had amassed a natural biofilm from the river, and immersed them in artificial river systems at 1 of 3 temperatures. After a week, they observed that the abundance of naturally occurring ARGs increased in the warmest water, at 30 degrees Celsius. Then, they exposed all the test slides to wastewater for 1 day and monitored the abundance of ARGs, both those that occurred naturally and those from wastewater, over the next 2 weeks. The ARGs from the wastewater readily invaded the biofilm in all 3 cases, with no difference in abundance by temperature. "The introduction seems to be temperature independent," Klumper said. But that's where the similarities ended. In the warmest water, the abundance of the invasive ARGs dropped significantly over 2 weeks. By the end of the experiment, the overall level of ARGs had returned to its initial, natural abundance, and the invasive ARGs had all but vanished. In the other 2 groups, the invasive ARGs fared better. In some cooler samples, they were able to establish in the biofilm community, even at abundances far higher than the naturally occurring ARGs. Those results suggested that the competition between invasive and indigenous microbes was mediated by temperature, Klumper said. "We were really surprised." Researchers often assume that a warming world will promote pathogenic ARGs, he said, but it's likely not so straightforward. A river is a complex system, Klumper said and responds to warming in ways that are difficult to model. "It's not only one effect that's at play," he said. In addition, he noted that in their experiment, the initial sample came from a pristine river and a single exposure to wastewater, but in many cases, wastewater is constantly released. "So in those biofilms, there might be members that originated from wastewater but adapted well to that ecosystem," he said. —ANI

Wastewater-derived antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) can penetrate and initially join natural biofilms after being injected into a river

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