India has reached out to Australia in a bid to procure monoclonal antibody doses for combatting the Nipah virus. Monoclonal antibodies, cloned from a single immune cell, are designed to precisely target specific antigens like viruses or disease-related molecules, reducing the risk of side effects. The Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, particularly through fruit bats. It can lead to encephalitis, with symptoms including fever, confusion, coma, and a high mortality rate of 40% to 70%. Currently, there is no definitive treatment for the Nipah virus, making monoclonal antibodies a crucial potential tool in managing outbreaks.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs): These laboratory-produced proteins mimic the function of natural antibodies and are highly specific in targeting particular disease-related molecules, such as viruses or cancer cells.
- Antigens: Antigens are foreign substances or molecules that trigger an immune response in the body, leading to the production of antibodies.
- Zoonotic Disease: Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted from animals to humans, like the Nipah virus.
- Encephalitis: Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain, which can result in symptoms such as fever, headache, disorientation, and, in severe cases, coma and death.
- Fruit Bats (Flying Foxes): Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah virus. These bats can carry and transmit the virus through their urine, saliva, and other bodily fluids.
