The Hindu Editorial (Scale up supplies) – Nov 29, 2021

A new Greek tragedy has risen with the World Health Organization (WHO) designating Omicron, a SARS-CoV-2 variant, as a ‘variant of concern’ (VOC). For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Scale up supplies) – Nov 29, 2021.

To read this article, click “The Hindu”.

This preview is provided here with permission.

Courtesy: The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial (Scale up supplies) – Nov 29, 2021:

scale up (phrasal verb) – step up, boost, escalate; increase, expand.
Omicron variant (noun) – On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the (new coronavirus) variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron, on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE). The first known confirmed Omicron infection was from a specimen collected on November 9. In recent weeks, infections in South Africa have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection.
variant (noun) – different or form or version or mutant of something (virus).
vaccine (noun) – a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease.
pandemic (noun) – the worldwide spread of a new disease; The illness spreads around the world and typically affects a large number of people across a wide area.
tragedy (noun) – disaster, devastation, misfortune, affliction, blight.
designate (verb) – name, call, label, classify.
novel coronavirus (nCoV) (SARS-CoV-2) (noun) – a new strain (type/variety) coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. (Courtesy: WHO)
Variant of Concern (VoC) (noun) – A variant for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (e.g., increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.
Variants of Interest (VoI) (noun) – A variant with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes to receptor binding, reduced neutralization by antibodies generated against previous infection or vaccination, reduced efficacy of treatments, potential diagnostic impact, or predicted increase in transmissibility or disease severity.
Alpha variant (noun) – The UK Variant (Alpha variant) has a formal scientific classification: B.1.1.7.
Beta variant (noun) – The South Africa Variant (Beta variant) has a formal scientific classification: B.1.351.
Gamma variant (noun) – The Brazil Variant (Gamma variant) has a formal scientific classification: P.1.
delta variant/B.1.617.2 (noun) – Formally known as AY.2 or B.1.617.2, it’s a variant of the coronavirus, first identified in India, is renamed as the ‘Delta variant’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) and this variant is reclassified as Variant of Concern (VOC). The B.1.617.1 strain has been reclassified to a Variant of Interest (VOI) and labelled variant “Kappa”.
likelihood (noun) – probability, chance, prospect, possibility.
dent (verb) – damage, impair, cripple, erode, weaken, undermine.
public health (noun) – the branch of medicine handling public health; public health is also the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities through education, policy making and research for disease and injury prevention.
reportedly (adverb) – supposedly, seemingly, apparently, professedly, ostensibly, purportedly.
mutation (noun) – a significant and basic “alteration/variation” in the DNA sequence.
spike (S) protein (noun) – spike (S) protein is the sole viral membrane protein responsible for coronavirus entry into host cells.
confer (verb) – give, grant, present (a benefit).
resistance (noun) – ability to counteract, ability to withstand, immunity from (a drug).
monoclonal antibody (noun) – antibodies that are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell. (casirivimab and imdevimab drug products are monoclonal antibodies).
antibody (noun) – it is also called ‘immunoglobulin’; a protective protein produced mainly by plasma (blood) cells in the immune system in response to the presence of antigens (disease causing organisms (bacteria & viruses) and other harmful/toxic foreign substances like insect venom).
line (noun) – course, direction, procedure, technique, way, method.
defence (noun) – protection, shielding, safeguarding.
emphasise (verb) – call attention to, put stress on, underscore, highlight.
virulence (noun) – a measure of the severity or dangerousness of a disease caused by the relative ability of a infectious microorganism.
temper (verb) – moderate, mitigate, reduce, weaken.
aggravate (verb) – increase, intensify, worsen, make worse, exacerbate, compound.
comparable (adjective) – similar, matching, equivalent, corresponding, commensurate, proportional, proportionate.
province (noun) – territory, region, state (of a country).
fraction (noun) – a small part/percentage of something.
genome (noun) – the genetic material (a complete set of DNA, including all of its genes) of an organism. The sum total of the genetic material of a cell or an organism.
sequence (noun) – the complete order of compounds/building blocks (nucleotides) of nucleic acids, such as RNA or DNA.
genome sequence (noun) – a process that determines the order, or sequence, of the DNA (nucleotides i.e., A, C, G and U) in each of the genes present in the virus’s genome.
impose (verb) – force, thrust, inflict, urge (an unwelcome decision).
given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
RT-PCR testing (noun) – Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Testing; it is one of the most accurate laboratory methods for detecting, tracking, and studying the coronavirus. It is a nuclear-derived method for detecting the presence of specific genetic material from any pathogen, including a virus. (pathogen is a bacteria/virus that causes disease).
rather than (phrase) – instead of.
considered (adjective) – thought-out, carefully thought about.
screening (noun) – examination, testing (of a group of people for the symptoms of a disease). The process of identifying healthy people who may be at increased risk of disease or condition.
protocol (noun) – procedure, convention, rules of conduct.
isolation (noun) – a complete separation from others of a person known or reasonably believed to be infected with communicable diseases.
so far (phrase) – until now, up to the present, up to this point.
adhere to (verb) – abide by, follow, obey, comply with.
imply (verb) – suggest, signify, say indirectly, indicate, point to.
transparency (noun) – clarity, straightforwardness, openness, honesty, unambiguity.
forthrightness (noun) – straightforwardness, frankness, candidness, openness, honesty.
pale in comparison (phrase) – to seem small/less important/less serious when compared to someone or something.
dose (noun) – an amount/quantity of something (a medicine/drug) prescribed to be taken at a specific time.
colossal (adjective) – huge, massive, very big, very large.
roll out (phrasal verb) – launch, introduce, organize, inaugurate (something officially).
clear cut (adjective) – definite, distinct, clear, well defined, precise, specific, explicit.
COVAX (noun) – COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and WHO. Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
consortium (noun) – association, syndicate, corporation, federation.
seek (verb) – try, aim, attempt.
vaccinate (verb) – inoculate, administer, introduce (with a vaccine to provide immunity against a disease).
coax (verb) – persuade, cajole, prevail on, butter up, sweat talk.
surplus (noun) – the amount of an asset or resource that exceeds the portion that’s actively utilized.