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Second round statewide survey for estimation of the burden of active infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the general population of Karnataka, India
The second round of the serial cross-sectional sentinel based population survey to assess active infection, sero-prevalence, and their evolution in the general population across Karnataka was conducted. Additionally, a longitudinal study among participants identified as COVID-19 positive in the first survey round was conducted to assess the clinical sensitivity of the testing kit used. Methods: The cross-sectional study of 41,228 participants across 290 health care facilities in all 30 districts of Karnataka was done among three groups of participants (low, moderate, and high risk). Consenting participants were subjected to real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, and antibody (IgG) testing. Results: Overall weighted adjusted seroprevalence of IgG was 15.6 per cent (95% CI: 14.9 to 16.3), crude IgG prevalence was 15.0 per cent and crude active prevalence was 0.5 per cent. Statewide infection fatality rate (IFR) was estimated as 0.11 per cent, and COVID-19 burden was estimated between 26.1 to 37.7 per cent (at 90% confidence). Clinical sensitivity of the IgG ELISA test kit was estimated as equal or more than 38.9 per cent. Conclusion: The sentinel-based population survey helped identify districts that needed better testing, reporting, and clinical management. The State was far from attaining natural immunity during the survey and hence must step up vaccination coverage and enforce public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Contact info:
rajeshs@iisc.ac.in
Website link:
https://covid19.iisc.ac.in/second-round-statewide-survey-for-estimation-of-the- burden-of-active-infection-and-anti-sars-cov-2-igg-antibodies-in-the-general- population-of-karnataka-india/
Identification of COVID-19 prognostic markers and therapeutic targets through meta-analysis and validation of Omics data from nasopharyngeal samples
While vaccine development for COVID-19 has progressed rapidly, the discovery of prognostic markers and antiviral drugs has been lagging behind. Several research groups have examined the host response in the respiratory tract to SARS-CoV-2 infection using OMICs technologies and large amounts of big data have been generated. Careful analysis of these data can provide insights required for COVID-19 prognosis and antiviral development.
A recent study, led by Shashank Tripathi from the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and published in EbioMedicine, reports two novel findings: a specific gene signature in nasal swabs, which can predict COVID-19 severity, and the potential offered by an FDA-approved drug (Auranofin) for COVID-19 therapy.
Current methods of assessing COVID-19 severity involve drawing blood or imaging the chest, both of which require a hospital visit. In the study, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis of COVID-19 OMICs data from nasopharyngeal samples, which revealed host factors that are consistently upregulated during infection. They were able to identify specific genes belonging to the S100 family (S100A6, S100A8, S100A9, and S100P), which could serve as prognostic
VOL. IV ISSUE 10
VIGYAN PRASAR 26
COVID-19 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS IN INDIA