Virus-like particles (VLPs)
Relevance: GS 3– Science & Technology
Table of Contents
ToggleWhy in News: Researchers at the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in Thiruvananthapuram have created a unique method to produce non-infectious Nipah virus-like particles (VLPs).
About Virus-like Particles (VLPs)
VLPs are molecules that resemble viruses but are non-infectious. They enable the study of viral behavior without the risk of causing disease.
Virus (Submicroscopic infectious agent)
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- HiBiT Tagging: The new VLPs are tagged with a small peptide called HiBiT. This enhances their functionality in research, particularly for drug screening and vaccine development.
- Effectiveness: VLPs are highly effective in creating vaccines for diseases such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, and malaria.
- Training the Immune System: When introduced into the body, VLPs trigger an immune response without causing disease symptoms. This effectively trains the body to recognize and fight the actual virus.
- Safer Research: VLPs allow scientists to test vaccines and treatments for the Nipah virus in safer labs with lower safety requirements (BSL-2), making the research process safer and more accessible.
- Drug Delivery: Recently, VLPs have been used as nanomachines to deliver drugs to specific sites and cells within the body.
- Structure
- Size: Very small, with a radius of approximately 20 to 200 nm.
- Composition: Made of one or more structural proteins, sometimes with an outer lipid envelope.
- Function: Can easily enter lymph nodes to activate the immune system.
- Production: Created using bacterial, yeast, insect, or mammalian cells.
Key Facts about Nipah Virus
Nipah virus (NiV) is zoonotic, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans, and can also spread through contaminated food or directly between people.
- Symptoms
- Causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis in humans.
- Severe disease in animals, particularly pigs, leading to significant economic losses.
- History: First outbreaks occurred in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999.
- Treatment
- No specific drugs or vaccines available for Nipah virus infection.
- Intensive supportive care is recommended for severe respiratory and neurologic complications.
Galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0
Relevance: GS 3- Space Technology
Why in News: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified the oldest galaxy yet, which is surprisingly bright and large considering its early stage.
About JADES-GS-z14-0
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered a galaxy named JADES-GS-z14-0.
Age of the Galaxy
- Age: The galaxy dates back to 290 million years after the Big Bang, which occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
- Significance: This makes it the most ancient galaxy observed to date.
Measuring Distance
- Redshift Calculation: Astronomers determine the distance of galaxies like JADES-GS-z14-0 by measuring their redshift value.
- Redshift Explained: As the universe expands, light waves stretch and shift towards the infrared region of the spectrum, a phenomenon known as redshift.
JWST’s Capabilities
- Instrumentation: The JWST is equipped to analyze the dramatically redshifted light from distant galaxies.
- Cosmic Dawn: This finding will aid astronomers in studying the “Cosmic Dawn,” the period when the first galaxies formed.
Hypotheses for Luminosity of Early Galaxies Supermassive Black Holes
Abundance of Stars
Brighter Stars
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About James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
A collaborative project by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), launched in December 2021.
- Purpose: An orbiting infrared observatory designed to complement and extend Hubble Space Telescope’s discoveries with longer wavelength coverage and greater sensitivity.
- Naming: Initially called the “Next Generation Space Telescope” (NGST), renamed in 2002 after former NASA administrator James Webb.
Specifications
- Primary Mirror: Approximately 6.5 meters in diameter, significantly larger than Hubble’s 2.4-meter mirror.
- Location: Positioned at the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point, 5 million km from Earth.
- Instruments: Equipped with specialized tools optimized for infrared observations.
Key Objectives
- Deeper Observations: Capable of observing deeper into the universe than Hubble.
- Early Epochs: Designed to study celestial objects from earlier epochs.
- Early Universe Light: Facilitates the detection of light from the universe’s earliest stars, dating back over 13.5 billion years.
India joins U.S.’s Red Flag air and RIMPAC naval exercises
Relevance: GS 3 – Defence
Why in News: Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy are participating in two large-scale international military exercises called Exercise Red Flag and RIMPAC.
About Exercise Red Flag
Conducted by the United States Air Force, Exercise Red Flag is renowned as a premier multinational training event focusing on advanced air combat scenarios.
- Purpose: It aims to enhance interoperability and combat readiness among participating nations through rigorous training exercises.
- Historical Context: Initiated in 1975, Red Flag has been a cornerstone of US-led military cooperation with allied nations.
- Indian Participation: The Indian Air Force first joined this exercise in 2008, marking its involvement in this high-profile training initiative.
- Locations: Red Flag exercises are conducted at two primary sites: Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Nellis AFB falls under the supervision of the United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC), while Eielson AFB is managed by the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), a component of USINDOPACOM.
Indian Air Force
Sr. No. | Partner Nation | Exercise Name | Details |
1 | France | Ex GARUDA | Part of Indo-French military cooperation since 1998. |
2 | Oman | Ex EASTERN BRIDGE | Joint exercise between IAF and RAFO. |
3 | Russia | Ex AVIAINDRA-18 | Biannual exercise focusing on anti-terrorism operations, started in 2014. |
4 | Thailand | SIAM BHARAT | Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise. |
5 | UAE | Ex DESERT EAGLE | Bilateral air combat exercise offering exposure to mission planning in a high-threat combat environment. |
6 | UK | Ex INDRADHANUSH | Enhances mutual operational understanding between IAF and Royal Air Force. Four editions have been held. |
7 | USA | Ex RED FLAG | A 2-week aerial combat exercise offering training to military pilots from the USA and allied nations. |
About RIMPAC Exercise 2024
- Overview: RIMPAC is one of the largest biennial multilateral naval exercises led by the United States, designed to strengthen interoperability and build trust among participating navies from allied nations.
- Background: Established in 1971 as an annual exercise, RIMPAC transitioned to a biennial format starting in 1974.
- Objective: The primary goal is to enhance collaboration and mutual understanding among the friendly foreign naval forces involved.
- Theme: “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.”
- Participating Nations: This exercise brings together a diverse group of countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Multilateral Exercises:
They involve participation from multiple military partners.
Sr. No. | Exercise Name | Year | Remarks |
1 | RIMPAC | 1971 | The world’s largest maritime exercise, now conducted biannually near Honolulu, Hawaii (USA). Overseen by the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet. In 2018, 26 countries, including India, participated. |
2 | MALABAR | 1992 | An annual trilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan, and India. It began as a bilateral exercise between India and the US and expanded to include Japan in 2015. |
3 | PEACE MISSION | 2018 | A counter-terrorism military exercise held in Russia under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). It was the first time that India and Pakistan participated together. |
4 | MILEX-18 | 2018 | The first joint military exercise between BIMSTEC member countries, conducted in Pune, Maharashtra. All BIMSTEC members except Thailand and Nepal participated, with a focus on counter-terrorism practices. |
5 | Samvedna-2018 | 2018 | The first multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise by the Indian Air Force, conducted off the coast of Kerala. |
6 | Ex KOMODO | 2014 | A biennial multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, first conducted by the Indonesian Navy in April 2014 at Batam, Indonesia. |
7 | Ex COBRA GOLD | 1993 | The largest Asia-Pacific military exercise held annually in Thailand. |
8 | ARF DiR Ex | 2009 | ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise (ARF DiR Ex). Aimed at organizing large-scale disaster relief activities. Takes place biannually and is co-hosted by one ASEAN member and one non-ASEAN ARF member. |
9 | KAKADU | 1993 | A multilateral regional maritime exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, starting in 1993. The exercise takes its name from Kakadu National Park. |