CHANDIGARH: One of the world's foremost biochemists, Nobel laureate Prof Roger Kornberg of Stanford University, will help an Indian research institute develop a thera peutic drug for dengue and tuberculosis. Kornberg was in Chandigarh for three days till Thursday , during which he met scientists of the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) and decided to work with them for the drugs.So far, there is no such specific antiviral medicine for dengue as the virus is not stable and mutates. The Nobel laureate is known for RNA transcription -for which he got the Nobel in 2006.The collaboration has come through at a time when dengue has become endemic to India. Figures of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programne show that more than 1.11 lakh people were affected by the disease between 2010 and 2016. This resulted in the death of 227 people. On the other hand some 2.2 mil lion people develop TB in India every year.This resulted in the death of 227 people. On the other hand some 2.2 million people develop TB in India every year.Kornberg told TOI in an exclusive interview that after processing necessary documents, his laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine , will transfer RNA molecules to be tested at IMTECH for tuberculosis and dengue.On why he took on the challenge of developing an anti-viral drug against dengue, Kornberg said, "Our approach is such that it will be readily adapted to any strain of the microorganism. We don't know if it will be effective. It is challenging for several reasons, but it is worth trying."Kornberg has been working with many Chinese and Indian scientists in different fields. "It will probably take a month or two for me to arrange for material to be sent," he said.In fact, IMTECH only recently started work on developing a dengue drug. "We found a lot of similarities between our research and that of Prof Kornberg's group. The Nobel laureate while interacting with us informed us that his laboratory has siRNA platform technology which can be explored for dengue and TB drug development," said Dr Anil Koul , director of IMTECH.Koul added, "The Stanford group has expertise in terms of RNA machinery for dengue and other viral pathogens. Prof Kornberg is one of the world' most eminent persons in terms of understanding RNA transcription and targeting RNA transcription in viral diseases has been successful in hepatitis C drug Sofosbuvir."

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