HYDERABAD STARTUP DEVELOPS MUSHROOM-BASED IMMUNITY BOOSTER AGAINST COVID-19

Many political parties and various state governments have started announcing the distribution of free Covid-19 vaccine but the invention of the vaccine may take a long time.

Even if it is invented, it is difficult to distribute to the public, says the premier research organization, The Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB)

CCMB Director Rakesh Mishra told The Daily Guardian, “It’s difficult to get the vaccine early and we must be prepared to fight the pandemic without a vaccine. The masks are the real vaccine. We must follow the Covid-19 protocol like wearing a mask, using sanitizer and maintaining social distancing.”

“We are working on the three varied platforms in association with other CSIR labs in Chandigarh and Kolkata on potential vaccines to deal with the Covid-19 virus. These platforms are slightly different from the vaccines currently under testing. They are based on ‘pseudovirus’ and ‘pre-processed proteins,” he added further.

On the other hand, a startup called Clone Deals incubated at the Atal Incubation Centre of the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (AIC-CCMB) has developed a food supplement derived from a mushroom variety that grows in the Himalayan region, which it claims will help in boosting immunity against Covid-19.

The mushroom, Cordyceps militaris, is known for its immune-boosting and antioxidant components. The novel nutraceutical developed by the startup Clone Deals has been named ‘CoronAid’.

The CEO of AIC CCMD Madhusudan Rao said, “We can use this immunity booster Coronaid to counter coronavirus. It was developed here without any side effects. If we have good immunity, the Corona cannot affect us.”

The startup Clone Deals has obtained FSSAI approval for marketing. The CCMB in a press release said that a chemical known as Cordycepin in the mushroom is known to prevent the formation of new DNA and RNA strands.

Clone Deals collaborated with scientists from CCMB to establish the potency of cordycepin in stopping the growth of the Covid-19-causing coronavirus in a cell culture system. Studies show that cordycepin inhibits the multiplication of the coronavirus.

Clone Deals representative Dr. Atik Patel hoped that the CoronAid would be a new year gift to the world and add considerable protection against the virus. The CoronAid is exclusively marketed worldwide by Nuzen Herbals Private Limited, Hyderabad.