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New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) Hackers could exploit genomic data vulnerabilities using next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technology, warns a study on Thursday urging the need to secure it.

The powerful sequencing tool NGS is used for the development of tailor-made medicines, cancer diagnostics, infectious disease tracking, and gene research.

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth, UK, raised concerns over how the tool can be exploited for data breaches, privacy violations, and even future biothreats by hackers.

While the steps are essential for generating accurate results, they also open up multiple points of vulnerability. As many DNA datasets are openly accessible online, the study warns cybercriminals can misuse the information for surveillance, manipulation, or malicious experimentation, said the researchers in the study published in the journal IEEE Access.

"Our work is a wake-up call. Protecting genomic data isn't just about encryption -- it's about anticipating attacks that don't yet exist. We need a paradigm shift in how we secure the future of precision medicine," said Dr. Nasreen Anjum from the University of Portsmouth's School of Computing.

The research team identified new and emerging methods that hackers and those with malicious intent could use to exploit or attack systems, such as synthetic DNA-encoded malware, AI-driven manipulation of genome data, and identity tracing through re-identification techniques.

These threats go beyond typical data breaches, posing risks to individual privacy, scientific integrity, and national security.

"Despite its importance, cyber-biosecurity remains one of the most neglected and poorly understood research disciplines and is leaving a critical gap in global biosecurity. To make sure our DNA information stays safe and is used only for good, we're urging more research and collaboration to find ways to keep this powerful technology secure,” Anjum said.

The experts called on “governments, regulatory bodies, funding agencies, and academic institutions” to prioritise this field "before it's too late”.

The team also shared recommendations and practical solutions, including secure sequencing protocols, encrypted storage, and AI-powered anomaly detection, creating a foundation for much stronger cyber-biosecurity.

--IANS

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Sydney, April 17 (IANS) A person has died and 12 others have been infected after contracting Legionnaires' disease in an outbreak linked to central Sydney, the Department of Health in the Australian state of New South Wales said on Thursday.

There are now 12 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease in people who spent time in central Sydney between March 13 and April 5, up from the six cases that had been diagnosed as of April 10, the department said.

It said that one of the confirmed cases died in the hospital. Of the 12 reported cases, 11 have been hospitalised for treatment.

NSW Health on Thursday urged anyone who spent time in central Sydney and surrounding areas in late March or early April to be aware of symptoms of Legionnaires' disease, including fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath.

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia caused by infection with Legionella bacteria, which is found naturally in fresh water. NSW Health said that symptoms can develop up to 10 days after exposure, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Outbreaks sometimes occur when bacteria from environmental sources such as cooling towers atop large buildings become contaminated," Vicky Sheppeard, director of the southeast Sydney local public health unit, said in a statement.

"NSW Health continues to work closely with the City of Sydney to identify, inspect and sample any cooling towers in the CBD potentially implicated in the outbreak. To date, over 165 cooling towers have been inspected and tested," she said.

According to the World Health Organisation, the Legionnaires' disease mortality rate can be as high as 80 per cent in untreated immunosuppressed patients.

Most people catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling the bacteria from water or soil. Older adults, smokers, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to Legionnaires' disease.

Although Legionnaires' disease primarily affects the lungs, it occasionally can cause infections in wounds and in other parts of the body, including the heart.

A mild form of Legionnaires' disease — known as Pontiac fever — can produce fever, chills, headache and muscle aches. Pontiac fever doesn't infect your lungs, and symptoms usually clear within two to five days.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) Boosting awareness, early diagnosis, and improving access to care is crucial to fight haemophilia and other bleeding disorders in the country, said Union Minister JP Nadda on World Haemophilia Day on Thursday.

World Haemophilia Day is observed every year on April 17 to raise awareness about bleeding disorders. The theme this year is: "Access for all: Women and Girls Bleed Too".

Haemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder where blood does not clot properly, even in minor injuries.

“On #WorldHaemophiliaDay, let’s raise awareness about haemophilia and other bleeding disorders, promote early diagnosis, and improve access to care,” said Nadda, in a post on social media platform X.

“This year’s theme -- “Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too” -- urges us to recognise the unique challenges faced by women and girls and ensure inclusive, equitable healthcare for all,” he added.

India faces a significant burden of haemophilia, holding the second-largest patient population globally, estimated at around 1,36,000 individuals.

Yet, “only 18 per cent are diagnosed, compared to 90 per cent in developed nations,” Dr. Tulika Seth, Professor - Haematology, AIIMS Delhi, told IANS.

“Haemophilia is more than a bleeding disorder -- it’s a lifelong battle requiring constant care, timely diagnosis, and access to treatment,” she added.

Seth cited the lack of awareness as the major reason for delayed diagnosis, which can lead to preventable joint damage.

Each bleeding episode requires attention, and patients take a prolonged time for recovery and severe complications could occur if any bleeding is not attended.

In about 80 per cent of cases, haemophilia manifests as bleeding, most frequently involving the large joints like knees, ankles, elbows, hip, and wrist, followed by deep bleeds affecting large body muscles.

However, the most dangerous ones are bleeds affecting the head/brain, neck, chest cavity, and abdominal and pelvic cavity.

The expert noted that medical advancements are transforming the lives of patients with the condition.

While traditional treatments involved clotting factor replacement during bleeds, offering prophylaxis or preventive treatment, new non-factor monoclonal replacement antibodies like emicizumab are offering better protection with fewer infusions, especially for patients with inhibitors, Seth said.

Last year, scientists at the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore developed the first-in-human gene therapy using lentiviral vectors for severe haemophilia A.

CMC-Vellore scientists also conducted the country's first human clinical trial of gene therapy for haemophilia A (FVIII deficiency).

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) India was the top-funded developing market in 2024, posting spectacular growth of 215 per cent in dollar funding and 27 per cent in deal count, according to a report.

The report by Omnivore, in collaboration with AgFunder, a global investment platform, showed that investment increased in five of the top 10 countries in 2024.

India topped with investments in the agrifood tech startups jumping over 3-fold to $2.5 billion last year. It was followed by Singapore $172m (+3 per cent), Mexico $97m (+250 per cent), Vietnam $87m (+350 per cent), and Chile $58m (+33 per cent), noted the report.

The rise in investments is driven by funds raised by quick commerce company Zepto.

Zepto was 2024's best-funded agrifoodtech company globally, raising nearly $1.4 billion across three late-stage deals, the report said.

"Top rounds for India in 2024 highlight continued investment into eGrocery and restaurant-related startups, which are well-suited to the country given its dense urban settings and high population. Midstream Technologies has also been a high-performing category for India agrifood tech investment," the report said.

According to a statement, agrifood tech investment in developing markets reached $3.7 billion in 2024, up 63 per cent from 2023 and accounting for 23 per cent of global investment.

"Deal activity declined 8.4 per cent YoY to 523 as the industry closed fewer and larger deals," it said.

“India is one of the world’s most established agtech ecosystems. Startups in the country raised 49 per cent more YoY with Zepto excluded. Ag marketplaces and midstream tech startups raised nearly $500 million alone,” the report added.

The report showed that funding in developing markets’ agrifood tech sector grew substantially between 2023 and 2024 (63 per cent) versus a 4 per cent decline in global agrifoodtech.

Upstream investment increased some 22 per cent to $1.2 billion, with agri marketplaces and fintech leading the charge. Downstream investment grew 91 per cent to $2.1 billion, representing 57 per cent of all developing markets funding, the report said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Pharmaceutical major Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Monday denied media reports that claimed that the company is planning a 25 per cent reduction in workforce costs and laying off high-earning employees.

The company said the information is "factually incorrect" and categorically dismissed the claims made in the report.

"We wish to clarify that the said news is factually incorrect. We categorically deny the claim of a 25 per cent workforce cost reduction and the other claims mentioned in the said news article," Dr Reddy’s said in a stock exchange filing.

The company also added that it does not comment on market speculation.

“In this regard, please note that the Company does not comment on market speculations and there is currently no such event or information which requires a disclosure under Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Regulations,” the firm added in its filing.

Earlier, a media report claimed that Dr Reddy's had initiated a major cost-cutting drive, asking several senior executives -- especially those earning over Rs 1 crore annually -- to resign.

The report also alleged that the company had offered voluntary retirement to employees in the 50–55 age group, mainly from its research and development division.

It further suggested that around 300–400 employees might be affected by the move.

According to the report, the move was being seen as part of the company’s broader efforts to improve operational efficiency, particularly in light of its recent ventures into new areas like nutraceuticals (through a joint venture with Nestle) and digital therapeutics.

Dr Reddy’s, however, maintains that no such cost-cutting measures targeting employee layoffs have been initiated.

The company emphasised that it has been hiring actively in recent years to support its expansion into new businesses.

In fact, Dr Reddy’s reported consolidated employee benefit expenses of Rs 1,367 crore in Q3 FY25 -- a 7 percent rise from Rs 1,276 crore in the same period of FY24.

The company had also hired over 6,200 people in FY24 and invested nearly Rs 39 crore in employee training and development.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Imbalance in the digestive system may disrupt brain signals and influence behavioural symptoms in children with autism, according to a study on Monday.

Researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) demonstrated that gut metabolites impact the brain, and the brain, in turn, affects behaviour.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, adds to a growing body of science implicating the “gut-brain” axis in autism.

“The brain acts as the intermediary between gut health and autism-related behaviours,” said first author Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, Professor at the Brain and Creativity Institute at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.

“Previous studies highlighted differences in gut microbiomes and brain structures in autism, but our research connects the dots,” she added.

For the study, the team collected behavioural data, brain imaging data, and stool samples from 43 children with autism and 41 neurotypical children aged 8-17. From the stool samples, they analysed metabolites produced by gut bacteria that break down food in the digestive system.

The researchers then correlated these metabolites with brain differences observed in children with autism and their behavioural characteristics. They focussed on the “tryptophan pathway” by which tryptophan -- an amino acid found in many foods -- is broken down into several metabolites, including serotonin.

Serotonin is crucial for emotional processing, social interaction, learning, and other brain functions. Since much of the body’s serotonin originates in the gut microbiome, changes in gut health can influence serotonin production, said the researchers.

“We know that children with autism have brain differences -- certain parts of their brain are either less active or more active compared to typically developing children,” Aziz-Zadeh said.

“We also know they often experience gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation, stomach pain, and other digestive problems. Additionally, autism is associated with various symptoms, including repetitive behaviours and social difficulties.”

The study may lead to the development of interventions that might target the gut and influence neural activity and behaviour.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) have found different climatic drivers behind back-to-back extreme heat events experienced by South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The study, in collaboration with a team from Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz in Germany, focussed on unusually intense heatwave events in March and April of 2022.

The team found different atmospheric processes that compounded heatwave impacts leading to temperatures far exceeding typical ranges for that time of year.

"Our analysis shows that the March heatwave was primarily linked to a sudden increase in the amplitude of short-lived atmospheric Rossby waves, which are large-scale meanders in high-altitude winds resembling bends in a winding river," said lead author Roshan Jha, doctoral student at the Centre for Climate Studies, IIT Bombay.

"The waves grew stronger as high-altitude westerly winds near the poles (extratropical jet stream) transferred energy to westerly winds closer to the equator (subtropical jet stream) as they came closer during the heatwave," Jha added.

The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, showed that the April heatwave happened differently. Instead of being driven by wind patterns in high altitudes, it was largely caused by very dry soil conditions and the advection of heat to India from north-western land regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Importantly, these dry conditions were partly created by the earlier March heatwave, which had already dried out the land through high temperatures and clear skies.

The research reveals a concerning pattern: one heatwave can set the stage for another, more intense heat event in the following weeks by removing moisture from the soil. When soil becomes too dry, it creates a cycle that makes the next heatwave even worse.

"Think of it like this -- when the soil has moisture, under the clear sky conditions, some of the sun's energy goes into evaporating that moisture rather than heating the air. But when the soil is already dry, all that energy goes straight into making the air hotter," explained coauthor Prof. Arpita Mondal, Associate Professor at IIT Bombay.

The experts urged the need to understand these mechanisms to improve the ability to forecast and prepare for extreme heat events in South Asia. It will also enable better prediction and mitigation of the impacts of future heatwaves.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories is allegedly reducing its workforce costs by nearly 25 per cent, and also laying off employees earning above Rs 1 crore yearly, according to media reports.

The company reportedly has also offered voluntary retirement to employees aged 50-55 within its research and development division.

The reports stated that multiple high-salaried employees across various departments have already been asked to resign.

The move comes amidst the company's ongoing efforts to boost operational efficiencies.

IANS contacted Dr Reddy's on the same and was yet to receive a response.

The significant downsizing initiative is likely due to potential underperformance in the recently undertaken new ventures. This includes expansion into nutraceuticals via a joint venture with Nestle and digital therapeutics, coupled with new product launches.

Further, a potential shutdown of the therapeutics division and a possible downsizing within the nutraceuticals arm is expected. The move is likely to impact about 300-400 employees, the reports said.

Notably, a 25 per cent reduction in workforce costs could yield annual savings of approximately Rs 1,300 crore.

In Q3 FY25, Dr Reddy's reported consolidated employee benefits expenses of Rs 1,367 crore -- a 7 per cent increase from the Rs 1,276 crore reported in Q3 FY24.

In FY23-24, the company hired 6,281 individuals and invested Rs 39.2 crore in training and development, with total employee benefits expenses reaching Rs 5,030 crore. The median employee remuneration increased by 7 per cent in FY24.

Layoffs are increasing globally, possibly due to rising economic uncertainty and the use of artificial intelligence.

According to Bombay Shaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande employees in their 40s are facing the highest risk. It is because they usually earn the highest salaries.

It has become a growing concern in the corporate world, he noted, in a recent Instagram post.

“When a mass layoff is about to happen, those in their 40s are the most vulnerable because they’re the highest paid,” Deshpande said.

--IANS

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Kampala, April 11 (IANS) Uganda's Ministry of Health said Friday that an anthrax outbreak in the northeastern and western regions of the country has left three people dead and several others hospitalised.

The ministry noted in a health situation update report that two deaths, one laboratory-confirmed case and another suspected patient, were identified in the western Ugandan district of Buhweju, with 11 others suspected to have the disease in the district.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old female died of suspected anthrax in Moroto district in the northeastern part of the country.

The cause of death was attributed to the consumption of meat from a cow that had died three days earlier in Apetawoi village and was sold raw at the Chokolias community market, said the health authority.

"It is reported that all the people who ate the meat, about 25 in number, got ill with similar signs and symptoms, though less severe than the deceased," it said.

In the western district of Kabale, seven people are suspected to have anthrax, according to the report, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last September, at least three people were killed and over 43 cases reported following an anthrax outbreak in the southwestern Ugandan district of Kanungu.

Several livestock deaths were also registered, including 65 heads of cattle, 10 goats and three sheep. A mass vaccination of livestock in the district was launched to curb the spread of the disease.

A quarantine on the sale of livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and related products, was imposed in Kanungu since the outbreak of anthrax in the district was announced on September 17.

Anthrax is caused by a bacterium called bacillus anthracis and primarily affects herbivorous animals, although other mammals and some birds can also contract it. Humans generally acquire the disease through contact with infected animals or exposure to contaminated animal products, according to the World Health Organisation.

--IANS

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Kampala, April 11 (IANS) Uganda has started a mass yellow fever vaccination exercise in the eastern part of the country after six confirmed cases were reported, a health official said.

The exercise, which started on Thursday, targets 4.3 million people in 19 districts, said Fred Nsubuga, senior medical officer at the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

Nsubuga told Xinhua that the vaccination campaign, which is being held at designated schools and health facilities, covers children and adults aged 12 months to 60 years.

Rachael Nakawala, a nurse in Kaliro district, said immunisation has started in some schools in the district, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We have started on Thursday with the vaccination of some pupils in some designated schools," she told Xinhua.

"We shall visit more schools tomorrow and later health centres for a period of six days."

According to the World Health Organisation, Yellow fever is an epidemic-prone, mosquito-borne, vaccine-preventable disease that is transmitted to humans by the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is caused by an arbovirus (a virus transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks or other arthropods) transmitted to humans by the bites of infected Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes.

These day-biting mosquitoes breed around houses (domestic), in forests or jungles (sylvatic), or in both habitats (semi-domestic). Yellow fever is a high-impact high-threat disease, with risk of international spread, which represents a potential threat to global health security.

The incubation period for yellow fever is 3 to 6 days. Many people do not experience symptoms. Common symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting. In most cases, symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 days.

A small percentage of patients enter a second, more toxic phase within 24 hours of recovering from initial symptoms. High fever returns, and several body systems are affected, usually the liver and the kidneys. In this phase, people are likely to develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes, hence the name yellow fever), dark urine, and abdominal pain with vomiting. Bleeding can occur from the mouth, nose, eyes, or stomach. Half of the patients who enter the toxic phase die within 7–10 days.

There is no specific antiviral drug for yellow fever. Patients should rest, stay hydrated and seek medical advice.

--IANS

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