Current global vaccine and drug efforts against COVID-19: Pros and cons of bypassing animal trials

COVID-19 has become one of the biggest health concern, along with huge economic burden. With no clearremedies to treat the disease, doctors are repurposing drugs like chloroquine and remdesivir to treat COVID-19patients. In parallel, research institutes in collaboration with biotech companies have identified strategies to useviral proteins as vaccine candidates for COVID-19. Although this looks promising, they still need to pass thetest of challenge studies in animal models. As various models for SARS-CoV-2 are under testing phase,biotech companies have bypassed animal studies and moved to Phase I clinical trials. In view of the presentoutbreak, this looks a justified approach, but the problem is that in the absence of animal studies, we can neverpredict the outcomes in humans. Since animal models are critical for vaccine development and SARS-CoV-2has different transmission dynamics, in this review we compare different animal models of SARS-CoV-2 withhumans for their pathogenic, immune response and transmission dynamics that make them ideal models forvaccine testing for COVID-19. Another issue of using animal model is the ethics of using animals for research;thus, we also discuss the pros and cons of using animals for vaccine development studies.

Fungal spectrum in otomycosis at tertiary care hospital.

Introduction: Otomycosis is a superficial mycotic infection of the external auditory canal that is caused by opportunistic fungi. It is a common fungal infection of the ear that is worldwide in distribution. The infection usually characterized by inflammation, pruritus, trauma to external auditory canal, scaling and severe discomfort such as suppuration and pain. We have tried to clarify the different causative factors & predisposing factors for otomycosis in our environment. Material & Methods: In this study we were including 100 patients (53 female and 47 male) with presumptive diagnosis of otomycosis. We performed mycological analysis on swab or fungal ball from external auditory canal of 100 patients. The diagnosis was confirmed micro biologically by direct microscopy (10% KOH mount) and fungal culture methods. Results: Otomycosis was more common among females as compared to males & also common in age groups of 20-35 yrs. The most common fungal pathogens isolated were Aspergillus niger (75.82%) followed by Aspergillus fumigatus( 13.19 %), Candida albicans ( 7.69 %) & Aspergillus flavus ( 3.3 %). while bacterial co infection/ super infection was detected in 6 cases. Conclusion: In this study we observe that otomycosis is unilateral condition more common in young age housewives and farmers particularly during summer and rainy season.