COVID-19 Scare: IIT Guwahati researchers to develop vaccine for coronavirus

A group of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati is working day and night to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic COVID-19 created havoc around the globe. People are practicing social-distancing, academic institutions are shut, examinations are postponed, classes are suspended, tourist places are closed and what not! In order to control the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus, the central government announced complete lockdown for the next 21 days. Considering the severe situation, a group of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati is working day and night to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus pandemic. The group is also working to develop rapid detection and portable diagnostic kits for various viruses and microorganisms.

According to the institute, the group led by Professor Sachin Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, is exploring possibilities to clone the immunogenic proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in order to use it as diagnostics and possible vaccine candidates. SARS-CoV-2 is the scientific term used to refer to acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Since the world researchers don’t have a cure for COVID-19, the world leaders are focused on making people practice social-distancing. To prevent the spread of the pandemic, IIT Guwahati developed hand-sanitisers as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The institute is distributing the sanitizer to everyone on campus, including visitors. In order to prohibit adulteration, the institute used tea extract to impart a different colour.

Earlier, the same group of researchers developed recombinant vaccines against classical swine fever virus and Japanese encephalitis. Their research was published in the journal Vaccine and Archives of Virology, respectively. The IIT Guwahati’s viral immunology laboratory works primarily around avian paramyxovirus and is currently actively involved in developing vaccines and diagnostics against this. However, the institute clarified that ‘It is just a proof of concept and the work requires a thorough validation in cell culture and animal model before coming to any conclusion’.

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