Science and Tech

Arvind Singh Rajpurohit

Theme : Health Science
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About Me!
• UPSC Journey : • Work Experience : I have more than 8
1. Given 5 Mains of UPSC CSE years of teaching experience
2. In 2019 UPSC Prelims scored 143.34/200 1. Currently , working as Joint Director in
Marks H.V. Desai Competitive Exam Centre
3. In 2018 Scored 296/500 marks in Political 2. Have taught various subjects in different
Science and International Relations institutes of Pune such as Jnana
4. In 2016 total of all GS Subjects : 426/1000 Prabodhini , Pune University CEC etc
Marks 3. Worked as Associate Software Engineer
at Symantec.
• Subject Taught :
1. Theme-Wise/Weekly Current Affairs • Educational Qualification :
2. Political Science and International 1. BE- IT from Pune Institute of Computer
Relations Technology
3. GS 2 – Polity, Governance and 2. LLB from New Law College Pune
International Relations 3. MA – in History and Political Science
4. Science and Technology 4. UGC- NET JRF in Political Science
5. MBA in Finance from Pune University

Other Interests :
1. Travelling : Travelled 10 Countries , more than 15 Indian states
2. Watching TV Series
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 Human immune system
• The immune system is made up of two armies of cells:
innate and acquired.
• Innate immune cells are the body's first line of
defense. They quickly respond to foreign cells to fight
infection, battle a virus or defend the body against
bacteria.
• Our acquired immunity—also called adaptive
immunity—uses T-cells and B-cells when invading
organisms slip through that first line.
• Various cells associated are:
1. Macrophage – It is the first cell to recognize and engulf
foreign substances. It may break down these substances
and present the smaller proteins to the T lymphocytes .
2. B-cell – It is a type of white blood cell that makes
antibodies. Antibodies are large Y-shaped proteins
which bind to specific antigens. This signals the other
cells of the immune system to get rid of the invading
microbes.
3. T-cell – These are designed to recognise the molecular
signatures of particular proteins, such as those from
bacteria, in order to activate an immune response.
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 Human Antibodies
• Scientists have in 2017 • Antibody molecules are
produced human antibodies in typically Y-shaped, with a
the laboratory for the first time. binding site on each arm of the
It could usher the rapid Y.
development of new vaccines • It is produced by plasma cells
to treat a wide range of (B-cells).
infectious diseases.
• Antibodies, also called • When an individual B cell
immunoglobulins, are proteins recognises a specific pathogen-
manufactured by the body that derived "antigen" molecule, it
help fight against foreign can proliferate and develop into
substances called antigens. plasma cells that secrete large
amounts of antibody capable of
• When an antigen enters the binding to the antigen and
body, it stimulates the immune fending off the infection.
system to produce antibodies • There are five classes of
which attach, or bind antibodies, each having a
themselves to the antigen and different function. They are IgG,
inactivate it. IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE.
• Antigens can be bacteria, • The region of the antigen that
viruses, or fungi that cause interacts with the antibodies is
infection and disease. They can called epitopes
also be substances, called
allergens that bring an allergic
reaction. Arvind_Unacademy 5
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 MRNA VACCINE
• Why in news? ➢ messenger RNAs (mRNA) are one
• Researchers at India’s National of the types of RNA that is
Centre for Biological Sciences, in transcribed from DNA and travels
collaboration with nine other into a cell's cytoplasm where it's
institutions in India, Africa, and translated by ribosomes into
the US, have developed India’s proteins.
first and only DNA vaccine ➢ mRNA vaccines teach our cells
candidate for dengue fever. ( how to make a protein—or even
March 2023 ) just a piece of a protein—that
➢ The country’s first home-grown triggers an immune response
mRNA Covid-19 vaccine — inside our bodies. That immune
GEMCOVAC-19 — developed at response, which produces
Pune’s Gennova antibodies, is what protects us
Biopharmaceuticals ( June 2022) from getting infected if the real
virus enters our bodies.
• About mRNA vaccine ➢ mRNA vaccines can be delivered
➢ mRNA vaccines are a new type of using a number of methods, via
vaccine to protect against needle-syringe injections or
infectious diseases. needle-free into the skin, injection
into the blood, muscle, lymph
➢ Unlike a normal vaccine, RNA node or directly into organs; or via
vaccines work by introducing an a nasal spray.
mRNA seq uence (the molecule
which tells cells what to build)
which is coded for a disease
specific antigen.
➢ Once produced within the body,
the antigen is recognised by the
immune system, preparing it to
fight the real thing. Arvind_Unacademy 8
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Benefits of RNA Vaccines
• Safe and non-infectious: RNA vaccines are not made with pathogen
particles or inactivated pathogen, so are non-infectious. RNA does not
integrate itself into the host genome and interact with our DNA. The
RNA strand in the vaccine is degraded once the protein is made.
• Efficacy: Clinical trials found that mRNA vaccines can generate a
stronger type of immunity as compared to traditional vaccines, and
are well-tolerated by healthy individuals with few side effects.
• Production: Vaccines can be produced more rapidly in the laboratory
in a process that can be standardised, which improves responsiveness
to emerging outbreaks.

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Conventional Vaccines Gene based Vaccines
• Traditional or conventional vaccines • They contain two types of Vaccine: DNA and RNA
include live attenuated vaccines, vaccines.
inactivated pathogens (also known • Instead of injecting a weakened form of a virus or
as "killed vaccines"), viral-vectored bacteria into the body, DNA and RNA vaccines use
vaccines, and other types known as part of the virus’ own genes to stimulate an
subunit, toxoid and conjugate immune response. In other words, they carry the
vaccines. genetic instructions for the host’s cells to make
• It exposes the body to proteins antigens
made by a virus or bacteria, are • Both DNA and RNA vaccines deliver the message
often made by using weakened or to the cell to create the desired protein so the
inactive versions of that virus or immune system creates a response against this
bacteria. protein.
• Traditional vaccines require • They can be stored at room temperature without
refrigeration. losing their activity and more stable than
conventional vaccines in warm climates "if kept
dry and/or sterile at pH8’.
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• Living Drug - Genetically modified cells are that are infused back into
patients in CAR T-cell therapy, continue multiplying to fight disease
for months or years. That’s why these immunotherapy treatments
are called “living drugs.”
• Orphan Drug - A biological product or medicine that is intended to
treat diseases so rare that sponsors are reluctant to develop them
under usual marketing conditions. According to WHO, disease having
fewer than 100 patients per 100,000 population is described as rare
disease and fewer than 2 patients per 100,000 is described as ultra
rare disease. Examples of the rare diseases are haemophilia,
thalassemia etc.

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 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• Why in news?
• According to the Global Research on Antimicrobial
Resistance (GRAM) report, 1.27 million people died in 2019
as a direct result of AMR (AntiMicrobial Resistance).( Jan
2022 )
➢ The death due to AMR is now a leading cause of death
worldwide, higher than HIV/AIDS or malaria.
➢ Most of the deaths from AMR were caused by lower respiratory
infections, such as pneumonia, and bloodstream infections, which
can lead to sepsis.
➢ MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) was
particularly deadly, while E. coli, and several other bacteria, were
also linked to high levels of drug resistance.
➢Anti-Malaria Drug resistance not alarming but growing fast:
WHO Report (Nov 2020)
▪ 3 states in North-East India have reported resistance to commonly
used drug against Malaria.
▪ Malaria is treated by Artemisinin based combination therapies
(ACTs) which form the first and second line of treatment for
Malaria.
✓ Reasons: Imperfect coverage of anti-malarial drugs, improper
diagnosis, misuse of drugs and not-so-good mosquito control
program are the major contributory factors causing resistance
against these drugs.
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 What is Antimicrobial Resistance?
• Anti microbial resistance is the resistance
acquired by any microorganism (bacteria,
viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against
antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics,
antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and
anthelmintics) that are used to treat
infections.
• As a result, standard treatments become
ineffective, infections persist and may
spread to others.
• Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial
resistance are sometimes referred to as
“superbugs”.
• Antimicrobial resistance is now regarded as
a major threat to public health across the
globe.
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 How it Happens?
• Some bacteria due to the presence of
resistance genes are intrinsically resistant
and therefore survive on being exposed to
antibiotics.
• Bacteria can also acquire resistance. This can
happen in two ways:
➢by sharing and transferring resistance genes
present in the rest of the population (
Conjugation ) or
➢by genetic mutations that help the bacteria
survive antibiotic exposure.
• Once the resistance has been acquired, it can
spread in the rest of the population of
bacteria through reproduction or gene
transfer.
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Reasons for Spread of AMR
• Antibiotic consumption in humans • Pharmaceutical Industry Pollution
➢ Unnecessary and injudicious use of ➢ The wastewater effluents from the
antibiotic fixed dose combinations could antibiotic manufacturing units contain a
lead to emergence of bacterial strains substantial amount of antibiotics, leading
resistant to multiple antibiotics. to contamination of rivers and lakes.
• Social factors • Environmental Sanitation
➢ Include self-medication. ➢ Untreated disposal of sewage water bodies
➢ Access to antibiotics without prescription. - leading to contamination of rivers with
➢ Lack of knowledge about when to use antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant
antibiotics. organisms.
• Cultural Activities • Infection Control Practices in
Healthcare Settings
➢ Mass bathing in rivers as part of religious
mass gathering occasions. ➢ A report on hand-washing practices of
nurses and doctors found that only 31.8%
• Antibiotic Consumption in Food of them washed hands after contact with
Animals patients.
➢ Antibiotics which are critical to human
health are commonly used for growth
promotion in poultry.

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 Impacts
• A threat to prevention and • Without effective antibiotics
treatment of infections - for prevention and treatment
medical procedures such as of infections, the
organ transplantation, cancer achievements of modern
chemotherapy, diabetes medicine are put at a risk.
management and major • Without urgent action, we are
surgery (for example, heading to antibiotic
caesarean sections or hip apocalypse – a future without
replacements) become very antibiotics, with bacteria
risky. becoming completely resistant
• The failure to treat infections to treatment and when
caused by resistant bacteria common infections and minor
also poses a greater risk of injuries could once again kill.
death. • Antimicrobial resistance is
• Antimicrobial putting the gains of the
resistance increases the Millennium Development
cost of health care with Goals at risk
lengthier stays in hospitals, and endangers achievement
additional tests and use of of the Sustainable
more expensive drugs. Development Goals.
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Steps to fight against AMR
• Infection control in healthcare facilities. • Self-medication should be shunned.
• Creating awareness about the use and • Antibiotics should be used only when
abuse of antibiotics. prescribed by the doctor.
• Vaccination can combat drug resistance • Appropriate and safe use of antibiotics-
by reducing the cases of infection and taking antibiotics only when needed,
as a result reducing the need for choosing the right antibiotic and
antibiotics. completing the full prescription.
• Strengthening resistance tracking so • Invest in the search for new antibiotics
that data on antimicrobial resistant to keep up with resistant bacteria as
infections and causes of infection can well as in new diagnostic tests to track
be gathered to enable formulation of the development of resistance.
specific strategies to prevent the spread
of the resistant bacteria.
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 AMR in India
• AMR is of particular concern in developing nations, • National Policy for Containment of Antimicrobial
including India, where the burden of infectious Resistance 2011.
disease is high and healthcare spending is low. • National Action Plan on AMR resistance 2017-2021.
• India is among the nations with the highest burden
of bacterial infections. Consequently, the impact of • India has instituted surveillance of the emergence of
AMR is likely to be higher in the Indian setting. drug resistance in disease causing microbes in
programmes on Tuberculosis, Vector Borne diseases,
• The National Health Policy 2017 highlights the AIDS, etc.
problem of antimicrobial resistance and calls for • Since March 2014 a separate Schedule H-1 has been
effective action to address it. incorporated in Drug and Cosmetic rules to regulate
• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) the sale of antimicrobials in the country.
identified AMR as one of the top 10 priorities for the • The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
ministry’s collaborative work with WHO. (FSSAI) banned the use of antibiotics and several
• In 2012, India’s medical societies adopted the pharmacologically active substances in fisheries.
Chennai Declaration, a set of national
recommendations to promote antibiotic stewardship. • The government has also capped the maximum levels
of drugs that can be used for growth promotion in
• India’s Red Line campaign demands that meat and meat products.
prescription-only antibiotics be marked with a red
line, to discourage the over-the-counter sale of
antibiotics.
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Global Measures
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW):
➢Held annually since 2015, WAAW is a global campaign that
aims to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance
worldwide and encourage best practices among the
general public, health workers and policy makers to slow
the development and spread of drug-resistant infections.
• The Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use
Surveillance System (GLASS):
➢WHO launched the GLASS in 2015 to continue filling
knowledge gaps and to inform strategies at all levels.
➢GLASS has been conceived to progressively incorporate
data from surveillance of AMR in humans, surveillance of
the use of antimicrobial medicines, AMR in the food chain
and in the environment.

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Way Forward
• AMR has the potential to return the world to a pre-antibiotic era
when medicines could not treat even simple infections.
• Therefore, to contain AMR, there is need for a One Health
Approach through coherent, integrated, multi sectoral cooperation
and actions, as human, animal and environmental health are
integrated.
• Development of antibiotic resistance breakers (ARBs) to restore
effectiveness of older classes of antibiotics.

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 Diseases
• Diseases are abnormalities in our body causing
discomfort as a result of organs or organ systems being
affected.
• On the basis of communicability, diseases are
categorized into communicable or infectious disease and
non-communicable or non-infectious disease.
➢ Infectious disease is caused by certain microorganisms called
pathogens and leads to infections. These can be spread from
one person to another hence are also called communicable
disease. For example cholera, malaria, chickenpox.
➢ Non-infectious are non-communicable diseases and caused
by a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons for the non-
infectious disease are genetics, nutritional deficiency, age
and sex of the individual and so on. Examples include cancer,
diabetes, and hypertension.
• Based on duration, diseases can be of two types: Acute
disease and Chronic disease.
➢ An acute disease is such a type of disease which occurs for a
short interval of time. An acute disease if not treated
properly can eventually become a chronic disease.e.g.
common cold, burn, etc.
➢ Chronic disease is a disease which lasts for a long period of
time e.g. Heart and kidney diseases.
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 Outbreak Epidemic Pandemic

Small, but unusual Bigger and spreading International and out of control

An outbreak is a noticeable, often An epidemic is an outbreak over a Once an epidemic spreads to

small, increase over the expected larger geographic area. multiple countries or regions of the
number of cases. world, it is considered a pandemic.

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 1985 : Universal
Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0 Immunization Programme

• Why in news?
➢India is expected to roll out the indigenously developed 2014 : Mission
CERVAVAC vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer among Indradhanush
girls aged 9-14 years through their schools by mid-2023. ( Dec
2022 )
➢Recently, the Ministry of Health virtually launched Intensified
Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 4.0 ( Feb 2022 ) 2017 : Intensified Mission
▪ It will ensure that Routine Immunization (RI) services reach Indradhanush
unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant
women.
▪ While the pace of routine immunisation has slowed down due to
Covid-19 pandemic, IMI 4.0 will immensely contribute in filling the 2019 : Intensified Mission
gaps and make lasting gains towards universal immunisation. Indradhanush 2.0
➢Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 3.0 scheme has been
rolled out to cover children and pregnant women who missed
routine immunisation during the Covid-19 pandemic. ( Feb 2021
) 2021 : Intensified Mission
➢The Government launched the second phase of nationwide Indradhanush 3.0
immunisation drive, i.e. Intensified Mission Indradhanush
2.0, to mark the 25 years of Pulse polio programme. ( Dec 2019
)
2022 : Intensified Mission
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 Mission Indradhanush:
• Objective:
➢To fully immunize more than 89 lakh children
who are either unvaccinated or partially
vaccinated under UIP.
➢Targets children under 2 years of age and
pregnant women for immunization.
• Diseases Covered:
➢Provides vaccination against 12 Vaccine-
Preventable Diseases (VPD) i.e. diphtheria,
Whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis,
hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia,
Haemophilus influenzae type B infections,
Japanese encephalitis (JE), rotavirus vaccine,
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and
measles-rubella (MR).
➢However, Vaccination against Japanese
Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenzae type
B is being provided in selected districts of the
country.
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Universal Immunization Programme:
• Launch:
➢ The Immunization Programme in India was introduced in 1978 as ‘Expanded Programme of
Immunization (EPI) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
➢ In 1985, the Programme was modified as ‘Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)’.
• Objectives of the Programme:
➢ Rapidly increasing immunization coverage,
➢ Improving the quality of services,
➢ Establishing a reliable cold chain system to the health facility level,
➢ Introducing a district-wise system for monitoring of performance, and
➢ Achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
• Analysis:
➢ UIP prevents mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine-
preventable diseases. But in the past, it was seen that the increase in immunization coverage
had slowed down and it increased at the rate of 1% per year between 2009 and 2013.
➢ To accelerate the coverage, Mission Indradhanush was envisaged and implemented since
2015 to rapidly increase the full immunization coverage to 90%.

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 Tuberculosis
• Why in News ? propel the TB germs into the
➢ Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) air.
has surpassed HIV-AIDS as the • Symptoms: Cough with sputum
leading cause of death due to
infectious diseases as per WHO. and blood at times, chest pains,
( Oct 2021 ) weakness, weight loss, fever
➢ India contributes to 27% of the and night sweats.
global TB burden, the highest • Treatment: TB is a treatable
share globally.
➢ As per WHO, an estimated 4.5
and curable disease. It is
lakh people have MDR-TB and treated with a standard 6-
nearly 37,500 people have XDR- month course of 4
TB. antimicrobial drugs that are
➢ Out of these, India has 24% of provided with information,
MDR-TB cases in the world. supervision and support to the
patient by a health worker or
• TB is caused trained volunteer.
by bacteria (Mycobacterium 1. Isoniazid (INH),
tuberculosis) that most often
affect the lungs. 2. Rifampicin,
3. Pyrazinamide &
• Transmission: TB is spread from 4. Ethambutol.
person to person through the
air. When people with TB
cough, sneeze or spit, they
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• Anti-TB medicines have been used for decades and strains that are
resistant to 1 or more of the medicines have been documented in
every country surveyed.
1. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by
bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most
powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using
second-line drugs.
2. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a more serious form of MDR-TB
caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line
anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options.
People who are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, plus any
fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs
(amikacin, kanamycin, capreomycin) are said to have XDR-TB.

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Initiatives by India
• Recently, the Ministry of Health and National TB information system which
Family Welfare has launched is a one-stop solution to manage
the annual Tuberculosis (TB) Report information of patients and monitor
2020. program activity and performance
• Eliminating TB by 2025: India is throughout the country.
committed to eliminating tuberculosis • Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY): This
from the country by 2025, five years scheme is aimed at providing financial
ahead of the global target by the World support to TB patients for their
Health Organisation (WHO) i.e. 2030. nutrition.
National Tuberculosis Elimination • TB Harega Desh Jeetega
Programme: To align with the Campaign: Launched In September
ambitious goal, the programme has 2019 it is showcasing the highest level
been renamed from the Revised of commitment for the elimination of
National Tuberculosis Control TB.
Programme (RNTCP) to National
Tuberculosis Elimination Programme • The Saksham Project: It is a project of
(NTEP). the Tata Institute of Social Sciences
• The Nikshay Ecosystem: It is the (TISS) that has been providing psycho-
social counselling to DR-TB patients.
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WHO Report on Global Trans Fat Elimination
• Why in News?
➢A new report from the World Health
Organization (WHO) has found that
5 billion people globally remain
unprotected from harmful trans fats,
increasing their risk of heart disease
and death. WHO first called for the
global elimination of industrially
produced trans fats in 2018, with an
elimination target set for 2023. ( Jan
2023 )

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Types of Fats
• Fat : is a major source of energy and helps body absorb vitamin
• Unsaturated Fats : Good fats usually come in the form of liquid oils, not
solid fats. From Plants (Vegetable oil, nuts, seeds)
• Saturated Fats : Not as harmful as trans fats if consumed in moderation;
generally take a solid form From red meat, butter, cheese, coconut oil,
palm oil
• Trans Fats : Worst type of fat for the heart, blood vessels, rest of the
body. They are associated with obesity, infertility, certain types of
cancers, high B.P.
1. Natural TFA: Beef fat and dairy fat in small amounts
2. Industrial TFA: Trans fats, also called partially hydrogenated oils, are created when
hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to make it more solid. E.g. Vanaspati, margarine
and bakery shortenings

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Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)?
• Why in News?
➢ In Union Budget 2023-24, the government has announced a
mission to eliminate Sickle cell Anaemia by 2047.(February
2023)
• SCD is a chronic single gene disorder causing a debilitating
systemic syndrome characterized by chronic anaemia,
acute painful episodes, organ infarction and chronic organ
damage and by a significant reduction in life expectancy.
• Symptoms:
⮚Symptoms of sickle cell disease can vary, but some common
symptoms include:
▪ Chronic Anaemia: leading to fatigue, weakness, and paleness.
▪ Painful episodes (also known as sickle cell crisis): these can cause
sudden and intense pain in the bones, chest, back, arms, and legs.
▪ Delayed growth and puberty
• Treatment:
⮚Blood Transfusions: These can help relieve anaemia and reduce
the risk of pain crises.
⮚Hydroxyurea: This is a medication that can help reduce the
frequency of painful episodes and prevent some of the long-
term complications of the disease.
⮚It can also be treated by bone marrow or stem
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Government Initiatives to Tackle SCD
• Government has released technical operational
guidelines for prevention and control of hemoglobinopathies in
2016 including sickle cell anaemia.
• Integrated centers have also been established in 22 tribal districts for
treatment and diagnosis.
• The State Haemoglobinopathy Mission has been established
in Madhya Pradesh to address the challenges in screening and
management of the disease.

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