Will adenovirus antibodies reduce the efficacy of vector vaccines?

While it is unclear if pre-existing antibodies to adenovirus vector will affect vaccine efficacy, it is possible that repeated vaccination using adenovirus-based vaccine either as a booster or as annual vaccination, if the need arises, will result in reduced efficacy due to vector immunity.

Advertisement

IISER Pune’s novel method uses sense of smell to identify asymptomatic coronavirus infection

Anindya Bhattacharjee, a PhD student at IISER Pune, is a co-author of the paper. Using a custom-built olfactory action meter, which determines how well one can smell, a team led by Dr. Nixon Abraham from the Department of Biology at IISER Pune was able to identify people infected with coronavirus but have no typical symptoms. … Continue reading IISER Pune’s novel method uses sense of smell to identify asymptomatic coronavirus infection

IISER Pune identifies druggable targets for multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

IISER Pune researchers have identified novel drug targets to kill multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. They increased the small molecule's ability to cross the cell barrier and bind to multiple proteins. A few proteins are crucial for bacteria's survival. Novel protein targets that can be used by candidate drug molecules to kill antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, … Continue reading IISER Pune identifies druggable targets for multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

IISER Pune synthesises a photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants

IISER Pune researchers have converted the highly unstable perovskite into a ultra-stable photocatalyst that can decompose toxic organic pollutants commonly present in water. The photocatalyst was synthesised by encapsulating nanocrystals of organic-inorganic perovskite inside a metal-organic framework (MOF). Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune have successfully converted the highly … Continue reading IISER Pune synthesises a photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants

IISER Pune finds a viable alternative to silicon diode

IISER Pune researchers have fabricated a organic-inorganic hybrid diode that shows high electrical conductivity and also high current rectification ratio, comparable with silicon diodes. The high rectification ratio remains unchanged even at an elevated temperature. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune have fabricated a non-silicon, organic-inorganic hybrid diode that … Continue reading IISER Pune finds a viable alternative to silicon diode

‘Tenure track system: Incentivising performance better than making insecurity as a model’

MHRD has called for a meeting of all seven IISER directors to discuss the merits of tenure track system and alternative systems for evaluating the performance of new faculty members before they are made permanent. The directors have been asked to send their views prior to the meeting. A meeting of all seven directors of … Continue reading ‘Tenure track system: Incentivising performance better than making insecurity as a model’

200 scientists sign an appeal to ‘vote against inequality, intimidation, discrimination’

For the first time, a large number (199) of scientists, both senior and young, have signed an appeal to vote against hate politics. The appeal calls for people to vote so as to “reject those who lynch or assault people, those who discriminate against people because of religion, caste, gender, language or region. Again, we must … Continue reading 200 scientists sign an appeal to ‘vote against inequality, intimidation, discrimination’

Podcast: Increasing Li-ion battery’s capacity, charging speed

Kingshuk Roy of IISER Pune explains how the novel anode made of silicon-phosphorene mixture for use in Li-ion batteries has five times more capacity than carbon-based electrodes and can be fully charged in about 15 minutes. The researchers used just 8% of phosphorene to dramatically improve the stability of silicon electrode. The electrode showed no … Continue reading Podcast: Increasing Li-ion battery’s capacity, charging speed

IISER Pune’s novel anode increases Li-ion capacity, quickens battery charging

IISER Pune researchers have fabricated a novel anode made of silicon-phosphorene mixture for use in Li-ion batteries. The anode has five times more capacity than carbon-based electrodes and can be fully charged in about 15 minutes. The electrode showed no discernible cracks even after 250 cycles of charging and discharging. A novel anode developed by … Continue reading IISER Pune’s novel anode increases Li-ion capacity, quickens battery charging

Podcast: IISc superconductivity claim faces another jolt

Satishchandra Ogale at IISER Pune explains that though the gold-silver thin films synthesised by his team is different from IISc's Au-Ag nanosized films and pellets and the microstructure is also not the same, no signature of superconductivity in either resistivity or magnetism measurements was seen. This is yet another jolt to IISc claims after MIT … Continue reading Podcast: IISc superconductivity claim faces another jolt