Context:
A vaccine for lumpy skin disease, developed in collaboration between Bharat Biotech’s group firm and ICAR, has received a license from CDSCO.
Biolumpivaxin – Lumpy Skin Disease Vaccine:
- World’s 1st DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) marker vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease.
- Developed by Biovet, a Bharat Biotech group firm.DIVA Technology: Differentiates between naturally infected and vaccinated animals. Aids in disease surveillance and control programs.
- Single-Dose Regimen: Administered once a year to cattle and buffaloes above 3 months of age.
- High Safety and Efficacy: Rigorously tested for quality, safety, and effectiveness.
About Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD):
- A vector-borne pox disease
- Not a zoonotic disease
- Aim – To protect cattle against LSD virus.
- Caused by – virus
- Infects cattle and water buffalo
- Vectors – Blood-feeding insects.
- Endemic in most African countries
- Had spread in Middle East, Southeast Europe and West and Central Asia.
- 1st observed – Zambia (1929)
- 1st time in India – Odisha (2019)
- Vaccine – Lumpi-ProVacInd vaccine
- A homologous, live attenuated vaccine developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
DIVA Vaccines:
- DIVA Vaccines: Allow for differentiation between naturally infected and vaccinated animals.
- Usage: Widely used in livestock disease control programs to prevent outbreaks, enable disease surveillance, and aid eradication efforts.
- Advantages:
- Easier to spot infected animals, relax restrictions for vaccinated ones.
- Track virus spread in vaccinated populations.
- Disadvantages:
- Might be less effective than regular vaccines.
- Requires special, less sensitive tests.
6 Types of Vaccines:
| Type of Vaccine | Definition |
| Inactivated Vaccines | Use killed germs to cause immune response. |
| Live-attenuated Vaccines | Use weakened germs to cause immune response. |
| mRNA Vaccines | Use messenger RNA to produce proteins triggering immunity. |
| Subunit, Recombinant, Polysaccharide, and Conjugate Vaccines | Use specific pieces of germs for strong immune response. |
| Toxoid Vaccines | Use toxins made by germs to create immunity. |
| Viral Vector Vaccines | Use modified viruses as vectors to deliver protection. |
Additional Information
Inactivated Vaccines:
- Use the killed version of the germ causing a disease.
- Created by inactivating a pathogen using heat or chemicals (formaldehyde/formalin).
- Pathogen’s ability to replicate is destroyed, but it remains “intact” for immune recognition.
- Generally referred to as “inactivated” rather than “killed” for viral vaccines.
- Immunity may not be as strong as live vaccines; booster shots may be required.
- Used to protect: Hepatitis A, Flu (shot only), Polio (shot only), Rabies.
Live-attenuated Vaccines:
- Use a weakened (attenuated) form of the germ causing a disease.
- Create a strong and long-lasting immune response similar to natural infection.
- Not suitable for people with weakened immune systems.
- Used to protect: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Rotavirus, Smallpox.
Messenger (m) RNA Vaccines:
- mRNA vaccines produce proteins to trigger an immune response.
- Benefits: Shorter manufacturing times, no risk of causing disease.
- Used to protect: Covid-19.
Subunit, Recombinant, Polysaccharide, and Conjugate Vaccines:
- Use specific pieces of the germ (protein, sugar, capsid).
- Provide a strong immune response.
- Suitable for people with weakened immune systems and long-term health problems.
- Used to protect: Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), Hepatitis B, HPV, Pneumococcal disease.
Toxoid Vaccines:
- Use a toxin produced by the germ causing a disease.
- Create immunity to the toxin rather than the germ itself.
- Used to protect: Diphtheria, Tetanus.
Viral Vector Vaccines:
- Use a modified version of a different virus as a vector for protection.
- Various viruses used as vectors: influenza, VSV, measles virus, adenovirus.
- Adenovirus used in some Covid-19 vaccines.
- Used to protect: Covid-19.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:
1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC CSE – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Covishield vaccine is based on the platform which uses a recombinant, replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein.