(^46) SCIENCE NEWS l BIOSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2018 | http://www.biospectrumindia.com
A team of researchers from All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS), New Delhi and Translational Health Science and Technology
Institute (THSTI), Faridabad has developed a diagnostic test for
TB meningitis with nearly 100 per cent sensitivity and about 91 per
cent specificity. The diagnostic test is based on a derivative of a DNA
aptamer that is a small single-stranded DNA molecule that binds to
a specific target
molecule and is a
chemical rival of
antibodies. The
derivative shows
high binding affinity
in nanomolar range
and high specificity
to a TB antigen
(HspX). Besides
higher binding
affinity, there is
significantly higher
load of the HspX antigen in cerebrospinal fluid samples, leading to
higher sensitivity. The aptamer-based diagnostic test for TB meningitis
has been patented by AIIMS and THSTI and licensed to AptaBharat
Innovation Pvt Limited, a THSTI spinoff founded by Dr Tarun Kumar
Sharma, Centre for Biodesign and Diagnostics at THSTI.
Researchers at the Indian
Institute of Science Education
and Research (IISER), Pune
have been able to increase
the uptake of anticancer drug
Alisertib by breast cancer cells
and achieve greater ability to
restrict cancer cell growth. The
researchers encapsulated the
poorly water-soluble anticancer
drug Alisertib in polysaccharide
nano-sized balls or vesicles.
Better uptake of the drug when
encapsulated meant lower
concentration of the drug was
sufficient to restrict cancer
growth significantly better than
the free drug. According to the
researchers, nanovesicles with
the drugs loaded become water
dispersible thus increasing the
uptake by cancer cells. The team
is currently working to make the
nanovesicles even more specific
to cancer cells. The drug-loaded
nanovesicles are cleaved by
esterase enzyme once inside the
cell. In spite of being cleaved,
the drug is released slowly in
a controlled manner over 8-10
hours.
The Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Kanpur,
has developed an online tool,
TreadWill, to help people
cope with issues related to
mental health. TreadWill is
a website designed to help
people deal with stress,
low mood, lethargy and
other depressive symptoms
through different online
exercises, questionnaires and
games. The online tool has
been developed by a team
with collaborative support
from the Computer Science
and Engineering and HSS
(Psychology) departments,
and Dr Alok Bajpai, a
psychiatrist. It is based on
cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT) that helps people with
depressive symptoms. The
effectiveness of CBT is well
established for many mental
illnesses, including mood and
anxiety disorders. Based on
the proven methodology of
CBT, TreadWill uses simple
language to help users to
identify involuntary negative
thoughts and behavior.
Users are subsequently
taught techniques to work on
modifying their thoughts and
actions.
IIT-K experts
develop tool
for addressing
mental health
Researchers develop sensitive
diagnostic test for TB meningitis
Pune scientists use nanovesicles
for improved cancer drug delivery
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