What Are mRNA Vaccines That Earned Two Scientists Nobel Prize In Medicine?

The coronavirus pandemic brought global renown to the mRNA technology that underpins vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, and on Monday earned a Nobel Prize for two scientists who have been key to its development. 

Katalin Kariko of Hungary and Drew Weissman of the United States won the Nobel Medicine Prize for their work on "nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19".

These types of jabs are new but researchers have been working for decades to try to figure out how to use messenger RNA (ribonucleic acid) for other vaccinations and to treat illnesses from AIDS to cancer. 

How does it work? 

Messenger RNA's job in the body is to help deliver specific instructions from DNA to cells. In the case of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna jabs, lab-generated mRNA tells human cells to create antigens -- proteins that are similar to ones found in the Covid-19 virus.

Thanks to those antigens, a person's immune system learns how to fight the virus and neutralise Covid if it enters the body.

After the cells create these proteins, the body breaks down the mRNA instructions and gets rid of them.

Such direct communication with cells is revolutionary -- classic vaccines aimed to provoke an immune response by injecting a neutralised form of a virus or antigens into the system. 

Where did this come from?

The first big breakthrough, in the late 1970s, was in using mRNA to make test-tube cells produce proteins. A decade later, scientists were able to get the same results in mice, but mRNA still had two major drawbacks as a medical tool.

For one thing, cells in live animals resisted synthetic mRNA, provoking a dangerous immune response.

On top of that, mRNA molecules are fragile, making them difficult to deliver to the system without altering them.

In 2005, Kariko and Weissman of Penn State University published a groundbreaking study showing that a lipid -- or fat molecule -- envelope could safely deliver mRNA without negative effects. 

The research caused a buzz in the pharmaceutical community and start-ups dedicated to mRNA therapies began to pop up around the world.

What else can mRNA do? 

Scientists have worked on developing mRNA jabs for illnesses like seasonal flu, rabies and Zika, as well as those that have remained vaccine-resistant until now, including malaria and AIDS.

Researchers have also started testing personalised treatments on cancer patients, using samples of the proteins in their tumours to create specialised mRNA.

This then triggers the immune system to target specific cancer cells.

"The mRNA platform is versatile," University of Pennsylvania biochemist Norbert Pardi told AFP. "Any protein can be encoded as mRNA so there are many potential applications."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Rajasthan MLA Polishes Shoes, Touches Man's Feet With Forehead

With elections just around the corner, political parties are going that extra step to win over voters, even if it means walking that extra mile in someone else's shoes. And that is just what an Independent MLA from Rajasthan did when he polished the shoes of his party workers and constituents.

Resolute in his commitment to combating caste biases in the state, the MLA gathered his supporters at a cobbler's shop and polished their shoes. Videos of his unique election campaign - which quickly went viral on social media - showed him respectfully touching the feet of an elderly supporter with his forehead and seeking his blessings.

Under a shed, hundreds had gathered to meet their MLA, who sat there polishing shoes. "An MLA who polishes our shoes, protects us and the Constitution is among us," the announcement in the background said.

As people showered rose petals and cheered for the MLA, Mr Hudla helped an elderly man out on his newly polished shoes.

Speaking to NDTV, Mr Hudla said he wants to remove caste discrimination. "Eradicating caste discrimination is my priority. I consider workers as my God. I stand with the common man, the poor, and the labourers and I am always ready to help them. Today I have honored them by polishing their shoes," he said.

After nearly an hour of polishing hundreds of shoes, Mr Hudla stressed: "My aim is to eliminate caste discrimination in the area. Many in the area indulge in caste politics, which is not right for us. In Mahwa, people are living in peace with love for one another. We have established new dimensions of development in the Mahwa Assembly Constituency."

"I firmly believe that casteism is a hurdle in our path towards progress and development," Mr. Hudla stated. "It perpetuates discrimination and divides our communities. It's high time we break these barriers and work together to uplift every citizen."

Earlier in the day, to mark Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, Om Prakash Hudla raised a 100-metre-high Tricolour outside the Mahwa district hospital. Supporters then carried him on their shoulders to a stadium, where the MLA unveiled the statue of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Interestingly, the MLA had polished the shoes of his constituents after winning the election in 2018.

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Jyothi Yarraji's Bronze Upgraded To Silver At Asian Games - Here's Why

Jyothi Yarraji clinched silver in Women's 100m Hurdles event at Asian Games 2023 to complete a momentous day for India at the competition which saw them winning 9 medals in athletics - 2 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze. However, the medal was not without its fair share of controversies as Yarraji was initially third in the race but her bronze was upgraded to silver after Chinese runner Wu Yanni was disqualified for a false start. Both Yarraji and Wu were under review after the false start but the organisers decided to disqualify just Wu as she was the first runner to rush in during the false start to the race.

At the start of the race, Wu was in Lane 4 with Yarraji in Lane 5. During the false start, Wu rushed in first followed by Yarraji resulting in a disqualification for both. The decision taken by the organisers left a lot of people confused as the first person to rush is disqualified and Yarraji was the second to run forward.

Both players approached the screen for a review and it was decided by the organisers to allow the athletes to compete in the race with a post-race review deciding their future.

China's Lin Yuwei emerged the winner in the race with Wu finishing second and Yarraji coming third.

Yarraji finished with the timing of 12.91 secs while Lin clocked 12.74 secs.

However, around 30 minutes after the race finished, Wu was disqualified from the race and as a result, the bronze medal won by Yarraji was immediately upgraded to a silver medal.

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"Destroyed 20 Targets": Turkey's Air Strikes In Iraq After Ankara Blast

Turkish jets launched air strikes inside Iraqi Kurdistan late Sunday, after a blast earlier the same day injured two police officers near the parliament building in Ankara.

In the hours following the bombing, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had already vowed that "terrorists" would never achieve their aims.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies, claimed responsibility for the blast. It has waged a deadly insurgency against Ankara for four decades.

The district targeted in the bombing is home to several other ministries and the Turkish parliament, which reopened as planned in the afternoon with an address from Erdogan.

"The villains who threaten the peace and security of citizens have not achieved their objectives and will never achieve them," Erdogan said. 

The interior ministry said two attackers had arrived in a commercial vehicle around 9:30 am (0630 GMT) in front of "the entrance gate of the General Directorate of Security of our Ministry of the Interior, and carried out a bomb attack."

"One of the terrorists blew himself up," Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told journalists outside the ministry. "The other was killed by a bullet to the head before he had a chance to blow himself up."

Two police officers were lightly injured in the exchange of fire, but their lives were not in danger, he added.

The Ankara prosecutor's office said it had opened an investigation and banned access to the area. Local media were asked to stop broadcasting images from the scene of the attack.

North Iraq strikes

In a statement to the ANF news agency, which is close to the Kurdish movement, the PKK said that "a sacrificial action was carried out against the Turkish Interior Ministry".

On Sunday evening, an official in Iraqi Kurdistan reported that Turkish army planes bombing parts of the Bradost region and the village of Badran.

Turkey's defence ministry acknowledged an "air operation" in northern Iraq to "neutralise the PKK".

The ministry said that "20 targets used by terrorists" had been destroyed.

In his opening remarks, Erdogan also slammed the European Union for stalling his country's membership bid, stating that Turkey "no longer expects anything from the European Union, which has kept us waiting at its door for 40 years".

"We have kept all the promises we have made to the EU but they have kept almost none of theirs," he said, adding that he would not "tolerate any new demands or conditions" for his country to join the bloc. 

Sweden NATO bid

This session of Turkey's parliament must also validate Sweden's entry into the NATO alliance.

Hungary and Turkey in July lifted their vetoes against Sweden's entry into the Atlantic alliance, but have been slow to ratify its membership.

Erdogan indicated in July that ratification by the Turkish parliament would not take place before October, but it is expected to be approved during this parliamentary year. 

For months, Erdogan has been putting pressure on Sweden to take action against Koran desecrations that have strained relations between the two countries. 

Sweden's prime minister Ulf Kristersson was quick to pledge in a statement that his country "once again confirms its commitment to long-term cooperation with Turkey in the fight against terrorism". 

Numerous foreign leaders also voiced support for Turkey after the attack, with messages of support coming from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States embassy in Ankara.

The Turkish capital has been the scene of several attacks, particularly during the years 2015 and 2016 -- many claimed by the PKK or the Islamic State group. 

The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

In October 2015 an attack in front of a central station in Ankara claimed by the Islamic State group killed 109 people.

The most recent bomb attack in Turkey was in a shopping street in Istanbul in November 2022, where six were killed and 81 were injured.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Indian-Origin UK MP Hails Yogi Adityanath For UP's "Changed Perception"

A British MP sent a postcard to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, congratulating him for the "changed perception" of the state.

The British MP of Indian origin, Virendra Sharma, in his postcard, wrote, "Honorable Yogi Adityanath, I would like to congratulate you for achieving great successes in UP and bringing peace to the state".

On this occasion, author Shantanu Gupta presented his best-selling graphic novel - "Ajay to Yogi Adityanath" to the British MP. Each of his graphic novels contains a postcard to send a message to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Virendra Sharma also wrote a message.

Speaking at the House of Commons, author Shantanu Gupta discussed the developmental journey of Uttar Pradesh.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created 'Brand India' across the world, because of which Indians are given more importance across the world today, and ‘Brand UP' has become a strong brand across India.

Shantanu Gupta further said that the same Uttar Pradesh, which was once known for anarchy, corruption, and inefficient governance, is now a top investment destination under the Yogi government. In the ranking of ‘Ease of Doing Business', UP jumped from 14th place before 2017 to second position.

The author also mentioned that Uttar Pradesh is currently ranked number 1 in the implementation of more than 40 schemes of the Central Government. Today, Uttar Pradesh is known for its achievements such as the Uttar Pradesh Expressway, new airports, 24-hour electricity, and a strong law and order situation.

Mr Gupta shared some fascinating conversations between him and Yogi Adityanath's father, Anand Singh Bisht.

The author told the British Parliament that during his research, Anand Bisht revealed that a small blue one-and-a-half-room house in Uttarakhand's Panchur village was his only possession in life. This was all he could earn in his lifetime from the humble job of a forest guard.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Digital Passports: These Countries Are Early Movers

Finland became the first country to launch digital passports, aiming to streamline and enhance international travel.Finnish travellers departing from Helsinki to the UK now have the option to present a digital ID on their mobile device instead of their physical passport, according to Euronews. The Finnish Border Control has noted that this marks the first instance worldwide where a digital passport is accepted in a genuine border control setting, promising a more efficient and seamless travel experience.

The initiative was launched on August 28 in collaboration with Finnair, the Finnish police, and airport operator Finavia. The Finnish Border Guard is overseeing the trial, which will continue until February 2024 at Helsinki Airport's border control.

How do these digital passports function?

Interested travelers must initially download the FIN DTC Pilot digital travel document app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. To use the app, a phone screen locking method such as a PIN number, fingerprint, or face ID must be activated before installation.

Subsequently, travellers must register with the police at Vantaa Main Police Station's license services. This registration entails booking an appointment and presenting a valid physical passport to create its digital counterpart. During the registration process, individuals will provide consent and have a facial photo taken for facial recognition purposes.

Once registered, travelers can use DTC at Helsinki Airport when flying directly to the United Kingdom and returning to Helsinki Airport on Finnair flights until the trial concludes in February 2024. Before each trip, travelers must transmit their data via the app to the Finnish Border Guard 36 to 4 hours prior to departure.

Digital passports worldwide

Several countries have launched or are planning similar initiatives. In alignment with Finland, Poland, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom are also developing digital passport projects. Notably, in 2021, Ukraine granted digital passports the same legal status as physical ones.

Singapore introduced HealthCerts in February 2021, a digital health passport that securely stores and presents Covid-19 test results and vaccination records for travelers. Additionally, countries such as China, Estonia, and Israel have introduced digital vaccine passports.

Where India stands

On the occasion of Passport Seva Divas on June 24, 2023, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the commencement of the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-Version 2.0), which will include new and enhanced e-passports. Jaishankar emphasized the commitment to providing passports and related services in a timely, reliable, accessible, transparent, and efficient manner.

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Climbing 50 Stairs A Day Can Reduce Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds

A new study from Tulane University suggests that climbing at least 50 stairs each day can lower the risk of heart disease, The Independent reported. According to the research, daily stair climbing of more than five flights may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by almost 20 per cent. Strokes, coronary artery disease, and other cardiovascular illnesses, such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), are the main killers and causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

 "Short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing are a time-efficient way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid profile, especially among those unable to achieve the current physical activity recommendations," The Independent quoted Dr Lu Qi, a co-author of the study and a professor at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine as saying.

He added, "The findings highlight the potential advantages of stair climbing as a primary preventive measure for ASCVD in the general population."

Researchers used data from the UK Biobank, which included 450,000 adults, to carry out the study. On the basis of their family history of cardiovascular disease, known risk factors, and genetic risk factors, participants were assessed. A survey of lifestyle practises and the frequency of stair climbing was also conducted, with a median follow-up period of 12.5 years.

The findings showed that people who were less sensitive to cardiovascular disease had a lower risk when they climbed more stairs each day. 

Walking up stairs has more advantages than walking on a flat surface because it requires the use of more muscles, balance, and gross motor skills, according to Dr. Nicolas Berger, a senior lecturer in sport and exercise at Teesside University in England who was not involved in the study. He stated that even brief periods of stair climbing involve significant cardiovascular activity, which is why people frequently experience shortness of breath while engaging in this exercise.

Dr Berger emphasized, "These short, intermittent bursts of activity have large benefits in terms of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. They can significantly increase your heart rate and oxygen uptake and cause positive adaptations in the body."

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