Staff

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been leading the fight and contributing extensively to overcome the crisis arising from the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The May issue of Science Reporter outlined several key achievements of CSIR’s fight against COVID-19. Here are a few more.

Coverall Suit to Combat COVID-19

CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru, along with MAF Clothing Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru, has developed and certified polypropylene spun laminated multi-layered non-woven fabric based Coverall to ensure the safety of Doctors, Nurses, Paramedical staff and Health Care workers who are working round the clock to fight COVID-19.
        The Coveralls have gone through stringent testing at SITRA, Coimbatore and have been certified for use. CSIR-NAL and MAF have plans to augment the production capacity to about 30,000 units per day within four weeks. The major advantage of these Coveralls is their highly competitive price. The import content is also negligible.

HCARD — Robotic Device for Frontline Healthcare Warriors

CSIR-CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute), Durgapur, has developed a “Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device” to safeguard the healthcare workers by reducing their exposure to the infected patients directly. The device helps healthcare workers maintain physical distance from COVID-19 patients. 
        The robotic device possesses various features including navigation, drawer activation for providing medicines and food to patients, sample collection and audio-visual communication. It can be controlled and monitored by a nursing booth with a control station. The robot works with both automatic as well as manual modes of navigation.

Trial on Mycobacterium W (Mw)

CSIR has been granted approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct trials on an approved immunomodulator, Sepsivac®, to test its efficacy against COVID-19. The drug contains heat-killed Mycobacterium W (Mw), to enhance innate immunity of the body to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection. It will also help to fasten the recovery of infected patients. Sepsivac® drug is used to treat patients with gram-negative sepsis and is also effective for leprosy patients. There are similarities between the clinical characteristics of coronavirus patients and gram-negative sepsis because of which it may hold some promise.

CSIR Identifies top 25 Drug for Repurposing

To make drugs available for corona patients in India, CSIR is working on the repurposing of 25 drugs/drug candidates for COVID-19. Hyderabad based CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) has developed a convenient and cost-effective synthetic process for Favipiravir, an inhibitor of viral RNA polymerase and that has emerged as one of the most encouraging drugs. The technology has been transferred to Cipla which will approach the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for approval of Favipiravir to be launched in India as Ciplenza. 

Herbal Decongestant Spray for Mask by CSIR-NBRI

The most common problem of wearing a mask for a long time is suffocation. Maks can cause congestion in the respiratory system. CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has developed a “Herbal Decongestant Spray” that removes the mucus or cough thus clearing the windpipe and congestion. The spray has been formulated as per the guidelines of the Ministry of AYUSH. The Institute is planning to transfer the technology for commercial production.

CIMAP’s CIM-Paushak and Herbal Cough Syrup 

CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, has developed two herbal products — CIM-Paushak and Herbal Cough Syrup – that can boost immunity and help in easing the dry cough symptom linked with COVID-19. The two effective, cheap and safe products have been formulated as per the guidelines from the Ministry of AYUSH. The products have been formulated using twelve valuable herbs including Puranva, Ashwagandha, Mulethi, Harad, Baheda and Sataver.

In Brief

• CSIR laboratories across the country have helped support their state governments by sharing their COVID-19 samples testing load. A total of 2152 samples were tested across 5 CSIR labs (IIIM – 758, IMTECH – 727, NEERI – 301, IHBT – 222 and CCMB – 144). In addition, CSIR-CFTRI has helped the state government hospitals by providing their RT-PCR machines to conduct the tests. 
• CSIR-IGIB had developed a cost-effective, portable and rapid paper strip based test kit called FELUDA. CSIR and Tata Sons have now signed an MoU for licensing the technology for scale-up and deployment in usable kits.
• CSIR labs are also working towards the development of Lateral Flow Devices for rapid and reliable detection of coronavirus at primary health centres and testing facilities. CSIR-IITR, IMTECH, CSIO, CFTRI, NIIST and CEERI are involved in designing such a point of care device.
• CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow has joined hands with the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) for development of a vaccine for COVID-19. CDRI is already collaborating with the KGMU in three research projects – molecular research to know the reasons for disease causation; finding treatment methodologies and the third to develop a vaccine for the virus.
• CSIR-IICB, Kolkata has established a new 'Epidemic Immune Monitoring' lab indispensable for the CSIR Plasma Therapy Trial. CSIR has taken a major initiative to pursue convalescent plasma therapy. The West Bengal State Govt. approved the proposal of CSIR-IICB for Convalescent Plasma Therapy programme on April 9, 2020.
• CSIR has submitted 53 genome sequences of the virus to the GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) and is planning to submit 450 more genome sequences. The sequencing will help in understanding the origins of the virus which will further aid in developing vaccines.
• CSIR is exploring a native herb as a biological medicine or “phytopharmaceutical”, which is already being tested as medicine for dengue, for its efficacy to combat COVID-19. CSIR is hopeful to get approval from Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) to conduct a clinical trial on humans of the herb, which is used as native medicine in the country.
• CSIR through its NMITLI program has approved a project towards the development of human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients. This project on the generation of neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies as a therapeutic strategy will be implemented by a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team. The team comprises of academic institutes and industry with participants from NCCS, IIT-Indore, PredOmix Technologies and Bharat Biotech International.

Published in SR June 2020 issue