After sero-survey in Pune, IISER to study ‘neutralising antibodies’ that prevent Covid infection

Sharing details of the survey, IISER Associate Professor Aurnab Ghose said the outcome of the study on detection of ‘neutralising antibodies’ will take time, at least six weeks, as it is a slow process. “The study will be done from the same samples collected during the initial study of sero-survey. We will not be collecting fresh samples but use the same ones collected earlier,” he said.

Ghose said the sero-survey in many cities has been conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), except the ones in Mumbai and Pune. “We are not aware of whether a similar study of detection of ‘neutralising antibodies’ is being taken up in any other city,” he said.

Ghose said the outcome of the sero-survey has concluded that the infection is prevalent in all types of communities. “There is infection in slums, tenements, apartments and bungalows. It is also prevalent in houses of all sizes and those with shared or independent toilets… It is important to stress that the infection is widespread and in all categories of accommodations,” hesaid.

On the low prevalence of antibodies in those above 66 years of age, Ghose said that may be due to various reasons and further study was required to ascertain them. He added that there is no information right now on the time period for which antibodies last and can fight against the virus.

Five highly affected prabhags in Pune – Yerawada, Kasbapeth-Somwarpeth, Rastapeth-Raviwarpeth, Lohiyanagar-Kasewadi and Navipeth-Parvati — were selected for the sero-survey.

While the densely-populated prabhags were among the worst affected after the beginning of the pandemic, they have seen a low growth rate of patients in the last two weeks. The prabhags that were least affected initially are now witnessing a higher rate of transmission.

The sero-survey was jointly conducted by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), IISER, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) of Faridabad and Christian Medical College of Vellore, with funding from Persistent Foundation.

The B J Medical College, D Y Patil Medical College and National Institute of Virology have also expressed their willingness to undertake independent sero-surveys in different parts of the district.