Congenital rubella syndrome surveillance in India, 2016-21: Analysis of five years surveillance data.

Background: In India, facility-based surveillance for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) was initiated in 2016 to estimate the burden and monitor the progress made in rubella control. We analyzed the surveillance data for 2016-2021 from 14 sentinel sites to describe the epidemiology of CRS. Method: We analyzed the surveillance data to describe the distribution of suspected and laboratory confirmed CRS patients by time, place and person characteristics. We compared clinical signs of laboratory confirmed CRS and discarded case-patients to find independent predictors of CRS using logistic regression analysis and developed a risk prediction model. Results: During 2016-21, surveillance sites enrolled 3940 suspected CRS case-patients (Age 3.5 months, SD: 3.5). About one-fifth (n = 813, 20.6%) were enrolled during newborn examination. Of the suspected CRS patients, 493 (12.5%) had laboratory evidence of rubella infection. The proportion of laboratory confirmed CRS cases declined from 26% in 2017 to 8.7% in 2021. Laboratory confirmed patients had higher odds of having hearing impairment (Odds ratio [OR] = 9.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.6-16.2), cataract (OR = 7.8, 95% CI: 5.4-11.2), pigmentary retinopathy (OR = 6.7, 95 CI: 3.3-13.6), structural heart defect with hearing impairment (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.2-12.2) and glaucoma (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2-8.1). Nomogram, along with a web version, was developed. Conclusions: Rubella continues to be a significant public health issue in India. The declining trend of test positivity among suspected CRS case-patients needs to be monitored through continued surveillance in these sentinel sites.

Selective binding and detection of magnetic labels using PHR sensor via photoresist micro-wells.

We have developed a novel platform for selective binding of magnetic labels on planar Hall resistance sensor (PHR) for biosensing applications. The photoresist (PR) micro wells were prepared on the PHR sensor junctions to trap the magnetic bead at specified locations on the sensor surface and thin layer of Au was sputtered in the PR wells immobilize bimolecular. The Au surface is functionalized with single-stranded oligonucleotide and further biotin was used to immobilize streptavidin coated magnetic labels (Dynabeads Myone 1.0 microm, Invitrogen Co.). After removal of the PR wells on the sensor surface the non specific binding magnetic labels were successfully removed and only the chemically bounded magnetic labels were remained on the Au surface for detection of biomolecules using PHR sensor. We controlled the number of magnetic labels on the PHR sensor surface by using different sizes of the PR well on the junctions. The specifically bounded magnetic labels were successfully detected by characterizing the individual PHR sensor junctions. This technique enables the complete control over the magnetic labels for selective binding of biomolecules on the sensor surface for increasing the sensitivity of the PHR sensor as well as removal of the non specific bindings on the sensor surface.

Translocation of bio-functionalized magnetic beads using smart magnetophoresis.

We demonstrate real time on-chip translocation of bio-functionalized superparamagnetic beads on a silicon surface in a solution using a magnetophoresis technique. The superparamagnetic beads act as biomolecule carriers. Fluorescent-labeled Atto-520 biotin was loaded to streptavidin-coated magnetic beads (Dynabead(®) M-280) by means of ligand-receptor interactions. The magnetic pathways were patterned lithographically such that semi-elliptical Ni(80)Fe(20) elements were arranged sequentially for a few hundred micrometers in length. An external rotating magnetic field was used to drive translational forces on the magnetic beads that were proportional to the product of the field strength and its gradient. The translational force at the curving edge of the pathway element of 6 µm diameter was calculated to be ∼1.2 pN for an applied field of 7.9 kA m(-1). However, the force at the flat edge was calculated to be ∼0.16 pN. The translational force was larger than the drag force and thus allowed the magnetic beads to move in a directional way along the curving edge of the pathway. However, the force was not sufficient to move the beads along the flat edge. The top and bottom curving edge semi-elliptical NiFe pathways were obliquely-arranged on the left and right sides of the converging site, respectively. This caused a central translational force that allowed the converging and diverging of the Atto-520 biotin loaded streptavidin magnetic beads at a particular site.