Daily Hot Topic
Topic : ICMR’s TB Detection Kit
GS-2 Mains : Health
- ICMR invites EOI for commercialization of CRISPR Cas based TB detection system.
- System detects TB bacteria using saliva DNA, costs low, identifies bacteria with preliminary symptoms, tests 1500 samples in 2 hours.
Tuberculosis (TB)
- Infectious disease affecting lungs, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Spreads through air (cough, sneeze, spit).
- Two forms: Latent TB infection (bacteria present but inactive) and active TB disease (bacteria active, symptoms like cough, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever).
- Symptoms vary based on affected body part (lungs, kidneys, brain, spine, skin).
- Preventable and curable with antibiotics.
- BCG vaccine provides moderate protection against severe TB in infants and children.
India’s TB Burden
- India has 27% of global TB cases (highest country-wise burden).
- 480,000 deaths annually (over 1,400 daily).
- Over 1 million ‘missing’ TB cases annually.
- Aim to eliminate TB by 2025.
Challenges in Eliminating TB
- Diagnostics and Case Detection: Lack of access to modern diagnostic tools in some areas.
- Drug-resistant TB: Significant burden of MDR-TB, difficult to treat.
- Poor primary healthcare: Limited healthcare facilities in rural and remote areas.
- Stigma and Awareness: Delays in seeking healthcare due to stigma and lack of awareness.
- Private Sector Engagement: Need for coordination and standardized treatment protocols.
- Treatment Adherence: Challenges in ensuring complete treatment course.
- Vulnerable Populations: Higher risk for migrant workers, slum dwellers, etc.
Government Initiatives
- Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP): Launched in 1997, continuously revised and strengthened.
- National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP): National Strategic Plan (2017-25) for ending TB by 2025.
- Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA): Launched in 2022 for community support to TB patients.
- Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST): Scaled up efforts to identify drug-resistant strains early.
- Ni-kshay portal: Online portal to track notified TB cases.
- New Drugs: Bedaquiline and Delamanid included in free drug basket for drug-resistant TB.
- R&D for Treatment: Studying shorter treatment courses.
- Vaccine Development: Testing Immuvac and VPM1002 vaccines.
Suggestions
- Set norms and standards for TB prevention and care.
- Develop and promote ethical and evidence-based TB policies.
- Monitor and report on TB epidemic status and progress.
CRISPR-Cas9
- DNA sequence part of bacterial defense system.
- Cas9 protein transfers resistance.
- Enzyme acting as molecular scissors, cutting DNA strands.
- Allows altering DNA sequences and modifying gene function.
- Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna awarded Nobel Prize in chemistry (2020) for discovering CRISPR-Cas9.
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