PreVenTB trial: protocol for evaluation of efficacy and safety of two vaccines VPM1002 and Immuvac (Mw) in preventing tuberculosis (TB) in healthy household contacts of newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB patients: phase III, randomised, double-blind, three-arm placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be one of the deadliest infectious diseases over the centuries, killing more people worldwide than any other single infectious disease. There is an urgent need for additional strategies which can expedite efforts to combat TB including a preventive vaccine. In this endeavour, we have developed a protocol for a multisite, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in India that aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two TB vaccines; namely, VPM1002 and Immuvac () () (MIP) among healthy household contacts (HHCs) of sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) patients.

Recurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis in India: Findings from the 2019-2021 nationwide community-based TB prevalence survey.

Recurrent Tuberculosis patients contribute to a significant proportion of TB burden in India. A nationwide survey was conducted during 2019-2021 across India among adults to estimate the prevalence of TB. A total of 322480 individuals were screened and 1402 were having TB.

Understanding complexities in the uptake of indigenously developed rapid point-of-care diagnostics for containment of antimicrobial resistance in India.

A good point-of-care diagnostic test holds a promise to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics by enabling early detection of the pathogen and facilitating rapid testing of antimicrobial susceptibility. India has taken many initiatives in the recent past to augment the development and deployment of diagnostics in Indian health care system. Funding opportunities to promote innovation in diagnostics development were started in early 2000s through various ministries and departments.

Sequential determination of viral load, humoral responses and phylogenetic analysis in fatal and non-fatal cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients from Gujarat, India, 2019.

Background: Thirty-four CCHF cases (17 fatal; 17 survived) were confirmed from Gujarat state, India during the year 2019. We aimed to find out the viral load, antibody kinetics, cytokine profile and phylogenetic analysis between fatal and non- fatal cases.

Methods: Thirty four cases were included in this study.

A prospective multicentre diagnostic accuracy study for the Truenat tuberculosis assays.

Background: Bringing reliable and accurate tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis closer to patients is a key priority for global TB control. Molbio Diagnostics have developed the Truenat point-of-care molecular assays for detection of TB and rifampicin (RIF) resistance.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre diagnostic accuracy study at 19 primary healthcare centres and seven reference laboratories in Peru, India, Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of the point-of-care Truenat MTB, MTB Plus and MTB-RIF Dx assays for pulmonary TB using culture and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing as the reference standard, compared with Xpert MTB/RIF or Ultra.

Self-reported and clinically identified loss of smell and taste among persons tested for COVID-19 in Chennai, southern India, July-August 2020: A cross sectional study.

Background: Early detection of symptoms of loss of smell and taste lately added for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has the potential for improving pandemic response. In the Indian context, we compared proportion experiencing new loss of smell or taste among COVID-19 positive and negative individuals in Chennai city, Southern India.

Methods: We did an analytical cross-sectional study among individuals aged 18-80 years undergoing testing at COVID-19 sample collection centres.

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, BBV152 in rhesus macaques.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis that poses a great challenge to the public health system of affected countries. Safe and effective vaccines are needed to overcome this crisis. Here, we develop and assess the protective efficacy and immunogenicity of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in rhesus macaques.

Successful integration of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis into a community-based HIV prevention program for female sex workers in Kolkata, India.

We assessed the impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the context of a community-based HIV program among female sex workers (FSWs) in Kolkata, India. This was an open-label, uncontrolled demonstration trial. HIV seronegative FSWs over 18 years were eligible.

Multicentric validation of indigenous molecular test Truenat™ MTB for detection of in sputum samples from presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in comparison with reference standards.

Background & Objectives: : Early case detection is essential to interrupt transmission and to prevent further spread of tuberculosis (TB) in high endemic settings. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) with visual read-outs are ideal as point-of-care tests. Truenat™ MTB is an indigenous chip-based NAAT for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which involves extraction of DNA and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using portable, automated, battery-operated instruments.