TDR-TB : No Choice Left!




As if Multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB), extensively-drug resistant (XDR-TB) were not scary enough, now TB has a deadlier edge known as Totally Drug-Resistant TB (TDR-TB). As the name says it all, the physicians are literally left with no choice to treat, as all known TB combination drugs do not work on the patient, owing to the TB bacilli’s ability to mutate and get resistant to the drugs. The clinicians have little to offer these patients with TDR-TB except for drastic surgeries and some relief medications.

TDR-TB cases were first reported in Iran in 2009 and India stands as the second country to report this scary form of TB and 12 TDR-TB cases have been reported in the last 3 months at Hinduja Hospitals in Mumbai. Of the 12 cases reported in Mumbai 83.3% of them were from the Mumbai city. Moreover, it is worrisome to note that the average age of the 12 patients is just about 32 years. The TDR-TB strains from the reported 12 patients were found to be resistant to all the first line drugs namely, streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide and second line drugs namely, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, kanamycin, amikacin, capreomycin, para-aminosalicylic acid and ethionamide.

In the report published in the December 2011 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, the authors declare that the emergence of TDR-TB is the failure of overall health system. Only 1% of patients with drug resistant TB have access to second-line drugs provided by the government sector and the private sector has clinicians who do not follow appropriate guidelines for management of TB patients. According to an earlier study on the prescription pattern of clinicians in a particular area, less than 5% of clinicians prescribed the right drugs for drug-resistant patients.

For more details: Zarir F. Udwadia, Rohit A. Amale, Kanchan K. Ajbani, Camilla Rodrigues.Totally Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in India. Clin Infect Dis. (2011)doi: 10.1093/cid/cir889. December 21, 2011

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1. MODS

Microbes can motivate too!


Be like a Vibrio
albeit curved
set things straight
like a smile; 
motility an awesome sight
inspiring to dart a mile!
 
Be like a Mycobacterium
slow and steady
thick skinned to tough times;
tricks up the sleeve and ready 
when confronted by slimes
 
Be like a HIV
break the rules to rewrite
the central dogma of life;
easy to mutate & with error-prone trait
surviving 3 decades of global strife

- Vignesh

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Videos for the Scientific Community


Check out this resourceful site (Labtube.tv) that has loads of videos related to science. The site features videos of

  • Scientific experiments 
  • Training
  • Lectures
  • Interviews
  • Product Demos
  • Exhibition reviews
  • Company news

The site allows registered users to upload videos and also one can create channels for themselves and share videos to the interested scientific community.


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1. Seeing is Believeing - Journal of Visualised Experiments

Learn Microbiology Online - Certificate Cources (Distance Education)

The online microbiology courses have become popular in recent years because of the increase in the employment opportunities in this domain. Some of the various job profiles and industries that are available to the graduates of these programs may be mentioned as below:
  • Bacteriologists
  • Immunologists
  • Biomedical Scientists
  • Virologists
  • Medical Microbiologists
  • Marine Microbiologists
  • Biotechnologists
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
  • Medical Research
  • Forensic Sciences
Online Microbiology Courses – Levels and Benefits

The internet based microbiology programs are offered at three levels - Associate, Bachelor and Masters. The strong course content and qualified faculty members ensure that students are able to achieve the desired objective after enrolling into these programs.

These programs also assist students in building the foundation necessary to successfully pursue professional courses in future. These courses are also helpful for students who are unable to enroll in colleges or institutes due to non-availability of these subjects in the curriculum.

Online Microbiology Courses – Tools and Media

The content of the online microbiology programs is delivered through platforms like video conferencing, blackboard learning systems, online seminars, live classrooms, chat forums to name a few.

The students are also required to participate in assignments and quizzes that help in evaluating their progress. Interactive sessions with fellow students through virtual discussion platform strengthen the overall academic process. At the end of the courses students also appear for test in order to earn the concerned degree.

Online Microbiology Courses – Types

There are 4 major types of microbiology programs that are offered on the internet:

  • Microbiology fundamentals courses: these programs offer introductory courses on microorganisms. There are various topics such as ecology, growth, diversity and genetics of the microorganisms. In addition the programs also cover diverse issues like fungal, viral and bacterial infection, immune response and microbial anatomy.

  • Microbiology courses for healthcare professionals: these programs are very helpful with regards to getting students prepared for graduate level courses in microbiology. The main topics covered in these courses are microbial morphology, ecology, physiology, bacterial metabolism and genetics.

  • Microbiology courses with medical emphasis: the students of microbiology courses meant for healthcare professionals deal with areas such as microbial pathogenesis, epidemiology, molecular biology, mammalian host resistance and immunology. They are provided with modules focusing on diseases that result from microorganisms and their diagnosis, prevention of infection and regular therapies and modes of treatment.
  • Environmental microbiology courses: in these courses students deal with microbial procedures and the way they function in artificial and natural settings. They deal with a wide range of subjects like enzyme and growth kinetics, parasitology and metabolic regulation, microbial and environmental interaction, industrial and soil microbiology and biogeochemical cycles

Institutes offering Online Microbiology Courses:
  1. University of New England
  2. The program is ideal for those who are planning a career expansion and want to pursue higher studies. Students who need an undergraduate course in this field of study in order to seek admission in post graduate level programs would be benefited for it. The program is spread over one semester and the students must have knowledge of introductory biology at college level. Some of the topics covered under this program are microbial morphology, bacterial metabolism, history of microbiology and genetics. These help the students in developing the required foundation to take on programs at professional level. The program also offers the support of a virtual laboratory. The course curriculum of this program is divided into five parts, which are infectious disease; microbial world; applied micro organism; life and death of microorganism; and microorganism and humans. The duration of this program is between 15-16 weeks.

  3. Ocean County College
  4. The college offers Associate of Science degree in Microbiology. In order to enable the students get an in-depth knowledge through online medium the college is work closely with Hands-On-Labs, Inc and McGraw-Hill publishing. The curriculum focuses in the microorganism and encompasses areas like microorganism identification, isolation and the control of microorganism. In order to enroll for this course program one is required to complete a course on human anatomy and physiology or any other similar course.

  5. Colorado Community Colleges Online
  6. Online microbiology courses are also offered by Colorado Community Colleges Online. The credits earned in the course will be transferred to other universities or public colleges in Colorado. This online microbiology course is a program under the Health Sciences. The course assists the students in understanding topics like cell reproduction, cell structure, microbial taxonomy and also bioenergetics. Some of the topics covered in the course are themes of microbiology; eucaryotic cells; physical and chemical control of microbes; microbial genetics; elements of microbial nutrition, ecology, and growth; and introduction to the viruses. The course also includes regular assignments and quizzes that are required to be submitted within the deadline. One must also purchase a laboratory kit in order to perform the lab work. This would help in developing the requisite technical skills like culturing, isolation, microscopy and also sterilization.

  7. Montana State University
  8. The US online university offers program in microbiology. The program comprises of three options, which are Medical Laboratory Science; Microbiology; and Environmental Health. The curriculum prepares the students to take higher role in the field of immunology, microbial genetics, virology, microbial ecology and medical microbiology. Some of the courses covered in these three options are Molecular & Cellular Biology; Calculus Technology; General Microbiology; Medical Bacteriology; Microbial Physiology; Introductory Psychology; General Biochemistry; Immunology; General Microbiology; Hematology; and Microbial Physiology.

  9. Mid State Technical College
  10. The college offers course in microbiology as a part of their nursing program. The course covers topics like metabolism, epidemiology, microbial structure, biotechnology, and genetics. The degree offered is Associate in Applied Science in Nursing. One must ensure that before talking this program one has the requisite knowledge in general biology, physiology, general anatomy and plant biology.

  11. CAL Campus One of the online microbiology courses is conducted by CAL Campus. It is an accredited private institute. Fundamentals of Microbiology is one of the courses offered by this private online institute. The course is of 3 credits. It covers areas that give the students an insight about microorganism. It provides an understanding on the importance and role of microorganism in food, health and other related areas. The students must have prior knowledge in biology at the introductory level or should be pursuing it along with this course. On completion the students would be aware of the significance of these microorganisms in the life of humans and environment as a whole. The course would also impart the requisite knowledge regarding the role of bacteria, fungi and viruses in spreading illness and other hazards to human life. Another course offered is Basic Practical Microbiology Lab. The course may be recommended for those who have already undergone or are pursuing the fundamentals of microbiology course. The curriculum is designed to provide the students with the idea and skills necessary to perform in the microbiology laboratory. It is one credit course. The course is online and is delivered through PowerPoint presentation, virtual laboratory and other relevant medium as deemed necessary.

  12. University of North Carolina Online

  13. The online microbiology program of University of North Carolina Online is named Medical Microbiology and is offered through North Carolina State University. The course deals with the following areas:

    Microbial pathogenesis
    Prevention of microbial origin human diseases
    Mammalian host resistance
    Therapy of microbial origin human diseases
    Diagnosis of microbial origin human diseases


    Source: http://www.onlineeducationhub.com/education-courses/biology/microbiology

Scientist Cartoons / Jokes!



VADLO is the FASTEST growing search engine in Biology, that allows scientists to search within four unique categories: Protocols, Products, Powerpoints, and Bioinformatics.

Protocols category lets you search for methods, techniques, assays, procedures, reagent recipes, plasmid maps, etc. Products category allows searching for commerically available life sciences research reagents. Powerpoints category finds powerpoint files for presentations, seminars, lectures and talks. Bioinformatics category caters calculators, servers, prediction tools, sequence alignment and manipulation tools, primer design etc. VADLO index is expanding everyday and your favorite link/s will be indexed pretty soon.

You will also find a number of “Life in Research” Cartoons, that will give you some light moments between intense scientific endeavours.

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What to Expect in Microbiology Viva?

 
Following is the list of a few not-to-be missed essential questions you can expect in a Microbiology viva. These set of questions would be useful to prepare answers for or revise before appearing for an oral exam. 

Special Diagnosic Tests:

  • Schick test
  • Dick test
  • Weil-Felix test
  • Paul-Bunnel test
  • Tuberculin test
  • Sereney’s test
  • Phenol coefficient test
  • 555 test
  • CAMP test
  • String test
  • Hair penetration test
  • Anton test
  • Chick Martin test
  • Rose Waaler test
  • Rideal Walker test
  • Resazurin test
  • Elek’s test
  • Diazo test
  • Heaf’s test

Phenomena/Reactions:
  • Kanagawa Phenomenon
  • Reynolds-Braude Phenomenon
  • Shultz- Dale phenomenon
  • Koch’s phenomenon
  • Quellung reaction
  • Strauss reaction
  • Nagler’s reaction
  • Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
  • Pfeiffer’s reaction
  • Neil-Mooser reaction
  • M’Fadyean reaction
  
Expand:
HACEK          MUG             HUS               PAS            LGV             GABA
PUO             ONPG            PPNG             TSST          CJD              TRIC
DEC             SSPE             BALT             MALT          PPLO            BCYE Agar   
TORCH          HDN              CRP              RSSE          CLED            TCBS
  
What is?

  1. Vietnam Time bomb
  2. NOMA
  3. Break bone fever
  4. Trench fever
  5. Tularemia
  6. Legionnaire’s disease
  7. Larva migrans
  8. X and V factor
  9. Alpha prime haemolysis
  10. Macfarland standard
  11. Breakpoint of an antimicrobial agent
  12. Heteroresistance, its mechanism and how it is detected
  13. Metachromatic granules and their staining method
  14. Principle of TSI test
  15. Prozone phenomenon
  16. VDRL, its other name
  17. Second line anti-tuberculosis drugs
  18. Pontiac fever
  19. Kuru’s disease
  20. Kyasanur forest disease
  21. Passenger virus
  22. Tzanck smear
  23. Shocking dose
  24. Kauffmann-White scheme
  25. Kupffer cells
  26. Ghon focus
  27. Reiter syndrome
  28. Negri bodies
  29. Fuller method
  30. Carrion’s disease
  31. Slapped cheek disease
  32. Kissing disease
  33. Vincent’s angina
  34. Myasthenia gravis
Volunteers interested in preparing answers for the questions listed above & sharing with iYi readers, welcome!


HIV Progression - Genetic fossils show way!




Human DNA contains the remnants of ancient retro viruses known as human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), which are genetic fossils,  that under normal circumstances remain dormant and always genetically stable. In earlier work, a team of researchers led by Douglas Nixon of the University of California, San Francisco, showed that HIV infection activates HERVs that lie inside HIV-infected cells in some individuals (but not those in non-infected cells), by interfering with regulatory compounds that normally prevent expression of these HERVs. The activated HERVs produce proteins that attract immune system T cells to the HIV-infected cells, targeting them for destruction. 

In a recent publication in Journal of Virology, research team from the the University of California, San Francisco led by Dr.Devi SenGupta has extended these findings to include individuals who have long-term chronic HIV-1 infection. They compared the responses of a tiny subset of individuals who are unique in their ability to suppress the virus indefinitely without the aid of combination therapy to those of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy, virologic non-controllers, immunologic progressors, and uninfected controls. They have demonstrated that a strong anti-HERV response corresponds to a lower viral load, and a higher CD4+ T cell count. Interestingly, strongest HERV responses were observed in the controllers who lack HLA alleles that are associated with protection from HIV-1 disease progression, suggesting that there may be an alternative mechanism of HIV control (such as HERV-specific cytotoxic T cells) in these controllers. According to the researchers, a vaccination targeting proteins produced by the HERV genes could probably help the immune system keep HIV in check.

For more details:

D. SenGupta, R. Tandon, R. G. S. Vieira, L. C. Ndhlovu, R. Lown-Hecht, C. E. Ormsby, L. Loh, R. B. Jones, K. E. Garrison, J. N. Martin, V. A. York, G. Spotts, G. Reyes-Teran, M. A. Ostrowski, F. M. Hecht, S. G. Deeks, D. F. Nixon. Strong Human Endogenous Retrovirus-Specific T Cell Responses Are Associated with Control of HIV-1 in Chronic InfectionJournal of Virology, 2011; 85 (14): 6977 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00179-11 

HIV SCIENCE 2012 - International Science Symposium on HIV & Infectious Diseases


The 4th National and 1st International Science Symposium on HIV & Infectious Diseases will cover various topics encompassing HIV epidemiology, pathogenesis, host-virus interactions, immune responses to infection, disease progression, opportunistic infections, co-infections, current treatment strategy, natural history, vaccines and other infectious diseases not limited to STDs, TB and viral hepatitis. The variety of scientific sessions planned for this symposium would meet the needs of various participants.

Several national and international experts / scientists will speak on the recent development and updates on the HIV/AIDS and other key infectious diseases. Interaction between the participants and experts will be encouraged through question & answer sessions and panel discussion in the symposium.


Registration
The registration details and online form are available at http://HIVSCIENCE.yrgcare.org/ and the registration (about 400) is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Scholarship (for Students)
Scholarships will be provided to a limited number of selected students with good track record. The application for the scholarship is available on the website.

Abstract submission
Research abstracts (Basic Science, Clinical Science and Social Science) in the following broad fields are invited:
• HIV / AIDS
• STDs
• TB
• Viral hepatitis
• Other infectious diseases


Abstracts submitted must be original and must not have been previously published elsewhere and selected abstracts can be presented as poster on the specific day of symposium.

The abstracts presented in this symposium will be published in the PubMed indexed journal, BMC Infectious Diseases (Impact Factor 2.83) after peer-review by journal’s editorial board.


Symposium Venue
Vigyan Auditorium, CSIR - SERC
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Campus, Taramani, Chennai - 600113, India. Landmark: Opposite to Ascendas IT Park.

For more info
Please visit symposium webpage: http://HIVSCIENCE.yrgcare.org/
Follow updates of HIVSCIENCE at Facebook & Twitter


Or write to
The Symposium Secretariat
HIV SCIENCE 2012
YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education
Voluntary Health Services Hospital Campus
Taramani, Chennai - 600 113, INDIA
eMail: HIVSymposium@yrgcare.org
Tel: +91-44-39106800/01/02
Hours of Operation: 9 am- 6 pm IST

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Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in iYi blog are the views of the blog owners/guest bloggers and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Organization he /she works for / belongs to. The info provided in iYi blog are for educational and informational purposes only.