Milk in Nepal and India: the difference!

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 I have observed that whenever milk ferments when I am in India, the paneer or cottage cheese does not come out easily. Even if I boil it and add lime juice to it, the cheese formed is quite little and more powdery than cheesy.  But when the same happens in Nepal, the cheese formation is immediate, dense and cheesy. I do not have to do more efforts to get cottage cheese out of the milk in Nepal. What is the reason? I checked internet and found some factors that can affect the quality and amount of cheese  1. Freedom from pathogenic bacteria - Good cheese forms of milk is free from pathogenic bacteria. Differences between Nepali vs Indian panipuri  2. Different milk quality with different amounts of fats and proteins  3. Ultra-pasteurization can destroy vital enzymes and bacteria that are required for cheese formation  4. If temperature of milk is less when it ferments, cheese formation will be less.  5. If milk is rancid, it means it's fats are also br...

Double Trouble! Oregon COVID-19 strain has the backbone of the UK coronavirus variant strain B.1.1.7 and also the mutation of the South African virus variant!

 Coronavirus is testing the medical fraternity. Over the past few months, it has undergone several mutations that are increasing its inter-human transmission capacity. And now to add to this list is another variant of the virus discovered in Oregon. It has the backbone of the variant virus from the UK ( B.1.1.7) and also has the mutation of E484K or “Eek” that are seen in the variants from South Africa, Brazil, and New York City. So it is double trouble!!!

The Oregon variant of the coronavirus

Scientists from Oregon have discovered a variant of the coronavirus bug that has the high transmission capacity of the UK strain and also resistance to vaccine-induced immunity problem of the South African strain. It is double trouble and a formidable combination. There is a growing concern about this finding though it was isolated only from one patient until now. 

Genetic analysis has revealed that this strain has been acquired from the community and not developed de novo in the patient. 

Click to read here on Pineapple fruit-the wonder tropical fruit with health benefits! 

Scientists and their opinion on the Oregon strain

Oregon strain of coronavirus is doubly-potent [Source: Koin]

Brian O’Roak, a geneticist at Oregon Health and Science University revealed:

“We didn’t import this from elsewhere in the world — it occurred spontaneously,”

The UK strain also has spread like wildfire in the USA. 2500 cases of it were detected from 46 states. This is overwhelming. And now this new virus. It is fast-spreading and also deadlier. It could worsen the fragile state of the USA as regards the virus. 

More on the two-in-one mutation found in Oregon

This new virus has the backbone of the UK virus and also the mutation of the strain found in South Africa, Brazil, and New York. The Eek mutation has made the vaccines ineffective against them since they blunt the immune response. This is worrying and hence Pfizer and Moderna are trying new versions of the vaccine to counter this new strain. 

Such a dual mutated virus strain was also discovered in the UK but this from Oregon is an independent one. 

Stacia Wyman, an expert in computational genomics at the University of California, Berkeley stated:

“We’re at the point where B.1.1.7 is just being introduced in the USA”

“As it evolves, and as it slowly becomes the dominant thing, it could accumulate more mutations.”

But it is important to continue with the precautions. Stacia adds:

“People need to not freak out but to continue to be vigilant,"

“We can’t let down our guard yet while there’s still these more transmissible variants circulating.”


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