News:

Kasauli-based Central Research Institute (CRI) has manufactured an antiserum which has been found effective in neutralising the Covid virus, including its mutant strains. The test was conducted by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

Take away for Preliminary exam:

Central Research Institute (CRI) : Established on 3 May 1905 by Dr. David Sample to develop vaccines. In 1911, Dr. Sample first developed a rabies tissue vaccine from the brains of sheep deliberately infected and then killed.

The institute performs large-scale production of bacterial and viral vaccines and serum. It has developed DPT, DT, tetanus, cholera, and typhoid vaccines, and is the only producer in India of rabies vaccine. It also produces snake antivenin.

The National Institute of Virology, Pune: It is an Indian virology research institute. It was previously known as 'Virus Research Center' which came into existence in 1952 under the joint auspices of the ICMR and the Rockefeller Foundation, as a part of the global programme of investigations on the arthropod-borne group of viruses. In view of its expanded scope and activities, the VRC was re-designated as the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in 1978.

The NIV is identified today as the WHO Collaborating Center for arboviruses reference and hemorrhagic fever reference and research. NIV is also the National Monitoring Centre for Influenza, Japanese encephalitis, Rota, Measles, Hepatitis and Corona virus.