Applications of biotechnology have been rapidly revolutionizing the practice of medicine in recent years. Important areas of application include new, simple and accurate diagnostic tools particularly for infectious diseases, genetic analysis for disease susceptibility, development of new drugs including vaccines, targeted drug delivery, molecular finger printing for investigating epidemics and many others.
Malaria, filariasis, cancer, tuberculosis and under-nutrition pose a major burden of disease in the State as also in many other parts of the country. Further, Orissa is prone to several natural disasters including cyclones, floods and draughts which promote out-break of several epidemics. Considering these facts, there is scope for application of biotechnology tools in the alleviation of human suffering.
Malaria:
With 3.8% of India's population, Orissa accounts for 15 -20 % of total malaria cases, 35-40% of Plasmodium falciparum infection and more than 50% malaria deaths of the country. There are as many as 25 anopheline species encountered in the State including four known vectors of malaria. This disease is considered as the major public health problem in the State. Perennial transmission of malaria is usual in the State, coupled with drug resistance in P. falciparum. More than 85% of the total malaria cases of the State are due to P. falciparum. Therefore, efforts will be made to determine the risk factors of perennial transmission of this disease in different physiographical regions and selective, sustainable and cost effective methods will be developed for prevention and control of malaria.
A vaccine may be an ideal weapon against malaria, because it would place the immune system in a state of readiness to kill the parasites whenever they invade the body. The genetic variation in parasites however limits the success of this approach. A multi-disciplinary approach is urgently necessary for the prevention of malaria.
Early and correct diagnosis is most important for proper management of malaria and to prevent further complications. Malaria diagnosis on the basis of clinical symptoms is at best 50% accurate. Diagnosis of malaria using conventional staining methods is unsatisfactory and interpretation of results requires considerable expertise. The fluorescent technique holds promise for the diagnosis of malaria. The PCR technique is better in view of its ability to detect infection in patients with very low parasitemia. However, false positive and false negative results may be found in a very few cases due to PCR inhabitation or contamination. An approach could be made to develop a diagnostic method using DNA hybridization technique to avoid false positive and negative results as found in PCR.
Indigenous plants having anti-malarial properties will be identified.
Filariasis :
India accounts for more than 40% of global lymphatic filariasis cases and, among the States, Orissa's share is the largest. Orissa has been an endemic home for lymphatic filariasis since time immemorial. Depiction of the clinical manifestation of the disease in the stone carvings in the Great Sun Temple at Konark shows that this disease has been known in Orissa for long. Lymphatic filariasis in India is caused by two nematode parasites viz., Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. The latter was not known in India till it was reported in Orissa in 1929. Use of insecticide impregnated bed nets (which has given encouraging results in malaria) may be tried to check flilariasis transmission along with the WHO recommended single dose mass chemotherapy. Biotechnological intervention methods for prevention and control of this disease will be explored. Indigenous plants with anti-filarial properties will be identified.
Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis is one of the most devastating infectious diseases in the world today. Currently, three million people die from tuberculosis every year. Incidence and mortality rate of pulmonary tuberculosis is rising globally, both in developing and developed countries. It is estimated that about 14 million people have tuberculosis in India of which 3.5 million are sputum positive and are infectious to the community. Each year, more than 2 million people develop active tuberculosis in India and up to 5,00,000 people die. This disease is endemic in Orissa. Two major factors contributing to this deterioration are emergence of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) tuberculosis and the pandemic of HIV (Human Immuno Deficiency Virus) infection.
Effective chemotherapy along with accurate diagnosis is the key to a successful TB control programme. The most common drugs used for the treatment of tuberculosis are rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutal, pyrazinamide and streptomycin. For the successful treatment of tuberculosis, consistent and uninterrupted medication for 6 to 8 months is required. Compliance with drug treatment in tuberculosis is a problem and there are direct inter-relations between relapses, drug regimes and compliance with treatments in tuberculosis.
MDR-TB is caused by inconsistent or partial treatment and is defined as TB resistant to the most important drugs, namely, isoniazid and rifampicin. The prevalence of MDR-TB is increasing in India which has upset the tuberculosis treatment and control programme. In case of HIV patients, it has been observed that poor absorption of anti-TB drugs contributes to acquired drug resistance and reduced effectiveness of anti-TB treatment.
Research will be strengthened in tuberculosis in the State. The role of some indigenous plants will be assessed.
Cancer:
In Orissa the prevalence of oral cancer is very high and thousands of new cases are diagnosed every year. Epidemiological studies reveal a positive correlation between oral cancer and various ways of tobacco consumption. Tobacco is being used widely in most of the rural areas. It is confirmed that prolonged consumption of betel leaves (pan) creates "field cancerization” which ultimately leads to oral cancer. The following steps are proposed to be taken:
i) Awareness programmes are to be organised.
ii) Molecular epidemiological studies are to be conducted. A systematic effort has to be made to select tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, cell cycle regulators and viral proteins which are expressed at the beginning of the event.
iii) Economic and reliable methods for early diagnosis of cancer including molecular biological techniques etc. are to be developed.
iv) Recently, organic compounds isolated from various medicinal plants and plant products have shown anti-tumorigenic activity. Therefore, different plant extracts (e.g. limonene isolated from orange peels) may be tried for the prevention of oral cancer by using cell culture systems and suitable animal models.
Infrastructure for research:
The following specific items are identified by the Vision Group for action over the next five years:
1) Establishment of an Advanced Centre for Biotechnology at the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar with focus on development and application of new diagnostic tools for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases particularly in the setting of an out-break. It will do further research in the diagnosis of malaria and filariasis, and in risk factors for their transmission. It would have state of the art equipment, facilities and trained manpower to undertake research in these areas.
2) Orissa has competitive advantage in the field of traditional remedies for management of several diseases including filariasis, malaria and cancer. Promising interventions will be subjected to the scientific process of herbal/ active molecule development using test systems in vitro and in vivo. This activity will be promoted at the Institute of Life Sciences, as well as at other centres, including the Regional Medical Research Centre of ICMR at Bhubaneswar.
Malaria, filariasis, cancer, tuberculosis and under-nutrition pose a major burden of disease in the State as also in many other parts of the country. Further, Orissa is prone to several natural disasters including cyclones, floods and draughts which promote out-break of several epidemics. Considering these facts, there is scope for application of biotechnology tools in the alleviation of human suffering.
Malaria:
With 3.8% of India's population, Orissa accounts for 15 -20 % of total malaria cases, 35-40% of Plasmodium falciparum infection and more than 50% malaria deaths of the country. There are as many as 25 anopheline species encountered in the State including four known vectors of malaria. This disease is considered as the major public health problem in the State. Perennial transmission of malaria is usual in the State, coupled with drug resistance in P. falciparum. More than 85% of the total malaria cases of the State are due to P. falciparum. Therefore, efforts will be made to determine the risk factors of perennial transmission of this disease in different physiographical regions and selective, sustainable and cost effective methods will be developed for prevention and control of malaria.
A vaccine may be an ideal weapon against malaria, because it would place the immune system in a state of readiness to kill the parasites whenever they invade the body. The genetic variation in parasites however limits the success of this approach. A multi-disciplinary approach is urgently necessary for the prevention of malaria.
Early and correct diagnosis is most important for proper management of malaria and to prevent further complications. Malaria diagnosis on the basis of clinical symptoms is at best 50% accurate. Diagnosis of malaria using conventional staining methods is unsatisfactory and interpretation of results requires considerable expertise. The fluorescent technique holds promise for the diagnosis of malaria. The PCR technique is better in view of its ability to detect infection in patients with very low parasitemia. However, false positive and false negative results may be found in a very few cases due to PCR inhabitation or contamination. An approach could be made to develop a diagnostic method using DNA hybridization technique to avoid false positive and negative results as found in PCR.
Indigenous plants having anti-malarial properties will be identified.
Filariasis :
India accounts for more than 40% of global lymphatic filariasis cases and, among the States, Orissa's share is the largest. Orissa has been an endemic home for lymphatic filariasis since time immemorial. Depiction of the clinical manifestation of the disease in the stone carvings in the Great Sun Temple at Konark shows that this disease has been known in Orissa for long. Lymphatic filariasis in India is caused by two nematode parasites viz., Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. The latter was not known in India till it was reported in Orissa in 1929. Use of insecticide impregnated bed nets (which has given encouraging results in malaria) may be tried to check flilariasis transmission along with the WHO recommended single dose mass chemotherapy. Biotechnological intervention methods for prevention and control of this disease will be explored. Indigenous plants with anti-filarial properties will be identified.
Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis is one of the most devastating infectious diseases in the world today. Currently, three million people die from tuberculosis every year. Incidence and mortality rate of pulmonary tuberculosis is rising globally, both in developing and developed countries. It is estimated that about 14 million people have tuberculosis in India of which 3.5 million are sputum positive and are infectious to the community. Each year, more than 2 million people develop active tuberculosis in India and up to 5,00,000 people die. This disease is endemic in Orissa. Two major factors contributing to this deterioration are emergence of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) tuberculosis and the pandemic of HIV (Human Immuno Deficiency Virus) infection.
Effective chemotherapy along with accurate diagnosis is the key to a successful TB control programme. The most common drugs used for the treatment of tuberculosis are rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutal, pyrazinamide and streptomycin. For the successful treatment of tuberculosis, consistent and uninterrupted medication for 6 to 8 months is required. Compliance with drug treatment in tuberculosis is a problem and there are direct inter-relations between relapses, drug regimes and compliance with treatments in tuberculosis.
MDR-TB is caused by inconsistent or partial treatment and is defined as TB resistant to the most important drugs, namely, isoniazid and rifampicin. The prevalence of MDR-TB is increasing in India which has upset the tuberculosis treatment and control programme. In case of HIV patients, it has been observed that poor absorption of anti-TB drugs contributes to acquired drug resistance and reduced effectiveness of anti-TB treatment.
Research will be strengthened in tuberculosis in the State. The role of some indigenous plants will be assessed.
Cancer:
In Orissa the prevalence of oral cancer is very high and thousands of new cases are diagnosed every year. Epidemiological studies reveal a positive correlation between oral cancer and various ways of tobacco consumption. Tobacco is being used widely in most of the rural areas. It is confirmed that prolonged consumption of betel leaves (pan) creates "field cancerization” which ultimately leads to oral cancer. The following steps are proposed to be taken:
i) Awareness programmes are to be organised.
ii) Molecular epidemiological studies are to be conducted. A systematic effort has to be made to select tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, cell cycle regulators and viral proteins which are expressed at the beginning of the event.
iii) Economic and reliable methods for early diagnosis of cancer including molecular biological techniques etc. are to be developed.
iv) Recently, organic compounds isolated from various medicinal plants and plant products have shown anti-tumorigenic activity. Therefore, different plant extracts (e.g. limonene isolated from orange peels) may be tried for the prevention of oral cancer by using cell culture systems and suitable animal models.
Infrastructure for research:
The following specific items are identified by the Vision Group for action over the next five years:
1) Establishment of an Advanced Centre for Biotechnology at the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar with focus on development and application of new diagnostic tools for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases particularly in the setting of an out-break. It will do further research in the diagnosis of malaria and filariasis, and in risk factors for their transmission. It would have state of the art equipment, facilities and trained manpower to undertake research in these areas.
2) Orissa has competitive advantage in the field of traditional remedies for management of several diseases including filariasis, malaria and cancer. Promising interventions will be subjected to the scientific process of herbal/ active molecule development using test systems in vitro and in vivo. This activity will be promoted at the Institute of Life Sciences, as well as at other centres, including the Regional Medical Research Centre of ICMR at Bhubaneswar.
No comments:
Post a Comment