Scientists have raised concerns about a new, more contagious Covid-19 variant known as XEC, which is spreading rapidly across Europe and could soon become the dominant strain. First identified in Germany in June, XEC has since appeared in countries like the UK, US, Denmark, and several others. A sublineage of the Omicron variant, XEC is a hybrid of two earlier subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, which are currently dominant in Europe.

With over 500 samples detected in 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Portugal, Ukraine, and China, experts are observing strong growth of XEC, particularly in Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. According to Professor Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, XEC has a "slight transmission advantage" over other recent Covid-19 variants. However, he reassured that vaccines should still provide significant protection against severe illness.

Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, highlighted that XEC is "just getting started" and may take several weeks or months to become a major threat. He warned that XEC could cause a wave of infections, possibly becoming the dominant variant this winter.

The symptoms of XEC are similar to those of previous Covid-19 variants, including fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell, loss of appetite, and body aches. Despite its increased transmissibility, experts believe that staying updated with vaccines and booster shots will help prevent severe cases and hospitalizations.

Additionally, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises continued good hygiene practices and improving indoor air quality to reduce transmission risks. Researchers are also calling for closer monitoring of XEC to better understand its progression and symptoms as it spreads.

Komal Kumar, a PhD candidate in biological sciences at Michigan Technological University, working under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Werner, has made a remarkable discovery: three genes that are responsible for cancer and disease in humans also dictate the spot patterns on fruit flies. This breakthrough paves the way for exploring these genes in fruit flies, potentially offering new insights into treating human diseases.

The shared genetic toolkit between humans and fruit flies enables researchers to study genetic disorders and cancer using these tiny organisms. Dr. Raja, captivated by how DNA encodes instructions for body structures, patterns, and behaviors, uses animal color patterns to model his investigations. His research has revealed that genes influencing pigment spots in animals have counterparts in humans, and abnormalities in these genes can lead to cancer and developmental disorders. Studying abdominal spots in miniature fruit flies provides a valuable model to understand how genes contribute to these conditions.

"We've identified proto-oncogenes, which, when dysregulated during development, can cause diseases like cancer," explains Dr. Raja. "These genes establish body plans during development and orchestrate pigment patterns on the abdomen. Importantly, they are conserved across all animals, including humans."

Dr. Raja's work demonstrates how developmental genes can adapt to influence new traits, such as painting spots and patterns on animal bodies and wings, without the need for new genetic inventions. "It's akin to adding a new fabric panel to an existing garment," he notes.

Dr. Raja's findings have been published in prestigious journals such as PLoS One and Genes, focusing on gene expression patterns and developing novel methods to map gene locations on the wings and bodies of various fruit fly species. "Our newly developed techniques will help us explore how genes contribute to abdominal pigment patterns and how this information is encoded in DNA," says Dr. Raja.

"Any disease or developmental disorder arises from genes behaving abnormally," Dr. Raja emphasizes. "Our research aims to decipher how these genes are regulated and how they influence other genes and developmental pathways." He believes that the ultimate goal of studying these genes is to identify targets for therapy against developmental diseases and cancer. "By addressing these genes' malfunctions, we aim to improve health outcomes significantly, offering a brighter future for many," he concludes, underscoring the monumental impact of investigating these miniature organisms.

Komal Kumar's research highlights the power of model organisms like fruit flies in genetic research and underscores the potential for translating these findings into tangible benefits for human health. By bridging the gap between basic biological research and clinical applications, researchers like Dr. Raja are at the forefront of a scientific revolution that could transform our understanding and treatment of genetic disorders and cancer.

(About Dr. Komal Kumar Bollepogu Raja, PhD, Department of Pathology, Dr. Graeme Mardon Laboratory, Baylor College of Medicine. Houston, Texas)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has praised yoga for its roots in India and its global embrace, highlighting its values of balance, mindfulness, and peace. In his message on the 10th International Yoga Day, Guterres urged people to draw inspiration from yoga’s timeless values for a more harmonious future.

The UN proclaimed June 21 as International Day of Yoga in December 2014, recognizing its universal appeal. The resolution, proposed by India, was endorsed by a record 175 member states.

“The International Day of Yoga recognizes the ancient practice’s unmatched power to deliver healing, inner peace, and physical, spiritual, and mental well-being,” Guterres stated. He emphasized that yoga, with its roots in India, is now embraced worldwide by people of all faiths and cultures, uniting them with its values of balance and peace. This year's theme, ‘Yoga for Self and Society,’ underscores yoga's role in enhancing individual lives and the wider community.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day at the North Lawn Area of the UN Headquarters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led last year’s event, nine years after he proposed June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The event saw participation from UN envoys, officials, diaspora members, and yoga enthusiasts. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed greeted attendees with a ‘Namaste,’ highlighting yoga's essence of unity—of mind, body, and spirit.

President of the 78th UN General Assembly session, Dennis Francis, in a virtual message, emphasized yoga’s global spread and its benefits, including contentment, physical strength, mental fortitude, empathy, compassion, and inner peace. He noted that yoga’s principles resonate deeply with the UN’s core values of promoting peace, justice, and human dignity.

Francis called for embracing yoga not only as a physical practice but as a guiding philosophy for collective efforts in building a better future. Charge d’affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador R Ravindra, noted yoga's global embrace over the past decade as a symbol of well-being and peace.

The celebration included a performance by the UN Chamber Music Society and yoga exercises led by yoga masters.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued new dietary guidelines in collaboration with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), aiming to promote healthier eating habits across India. These guidelines emphasize a diverse diet and an active lifestyle while cautioning against excessive consumption of tea and coffee, which are deeply ingrained in Indian culture.

ICMR experts highlighted the presence of caffeine in tea and coffee, which stimulates the central nervous system and can lead to physiological dependence. They recommended a daily caffeine intake of no more than 300mg. Notably, a 150ml cup of brewed coffee contains 80 - 120 mg of caffeine, while instant coffee has 50 - 65mg, and tea contains 30 - 65mg.

The guidelines advise against consuming tea or coffee an hour before or after meals due to their tannin content. Tannins can hinder iron absorption, potentially causing iron deficiency and related health issues. Excessive coffee consumption is also linked to high blood pressure and cardiac irregularities.

However, the guidelines highlight the benefits of consuming tea without milk, including improved blood circulation and reduced risks of conditions like coronary artery disease and stomach cancer.

In addition to moderating tea and coffee intake, the guidelines recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and seafood, while limiting oil, sugar, and salt consumption. These dietary suggestions align with promoting overall health and well-being among the Indian population.

AstraZeneca has initiated a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine following reports of rare side effects and the emergence of updated vaccines targeting new variants. The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and produced as Covishield by the Serum Institute of India, is being withdrawn due to a surplus of newer vaccines available for COVID-19, according to The Telegraph.

The company has voluntarily withdrawn its marketing authorization in the European Union and ceased production of the vaccine, stating it can no longer be used. Similar withdrawals are planned for other countries where the vaccine has been administered.

AstraZeneca faces a £100 million lawsuit in the UK alleging the vaccine caused deaths and injuries. The company acknowledged in court documents in February that Covishield can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a condition linked to blood clots and low blood platelet count, associated with at least 81 deaths in the UK. However, the company denies any connection between the withdrawal and the lawsuit.

Despite the withdrawal, AstraZeneca highlights the impact of its vaccine, noting over 6.5 million lives saved and three billion doses supplied globally in the first year alone. They emphasize their contributions to ending the pandemic and state that multiple variant vaccines have since been developed, leading to a surplus of updated vaccines.

Experts anticipate the withdrawal of monovalent vaccines targeting the original COVID-19 strain, to be replaced with updated vaccines capable of addressing a wider range of strains. AstraZeneca pledges to collaborate with regulators and partners to chart a clear path forward, marking the conclusion of this chapter in the fight against the pandemic.