Nipah virus

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance

Why in News?

Recently, Kerala launched antibody surveillance studies on the Nipah virus.

• Novel pseudo virus neutralization test (PVNT) - It is based on a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) system.
• Developed by - Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV), Kerala.
• Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) system – It is a valuable tool to study entry, replication, and assembly of virus.
• Pseudo virions - IAV developed non -infectious Nipah virus-like particles (VLPs) in laboratory which mimic the wild type NiV.
• Ghost viruses – The engineered viruses carry most of the characteristics of the virus, including the NiV structural proteins G, F, and M, except their ability to replicate (because it lacks the viral genome).
• Ephrin B2 - The main cell receptor used by NiV for infecting host cells.
• Advantages
  • Effective platforms - VLPs and pseudo virions are effective platforms for studying cell binding and entry kinetics of the virus.
  • Safe to handle – VLP and pseudo virions cannot replicate and reproduce infectious viruses (because it lacks the viral genome)
  • It makes them safe to handle in standard Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) facilities.
• Other testing mechanism - Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test   - Using body fluids like:
  • Nasal or throat swabs.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
  • Urine samples.
  • Blood samples.

Reference

The Hindu| Nipah virus infection