Invisible yet invincible

Cryptococcosis - Lecture notes / Presentation

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:58:00 +0000

Slides include
1. Introduction
2.General features
3.Epidemiology
4.Pathogenesis
5.Clinical Diagnosis
6.Pulmonary Cryptococcosis
7. CNS Infections
8. Cutaneous Infection
9. Osseous Infection
10.Occular & other Infections
11. Laboratory Diagnosis
12. Treatment

Cryptococcosis

Related Posts:
1. Presentation / Lecture notes on Viral Hepatitis

Microbiology notes for exam preps

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:43:00 +0000

Click here for a wonderful collection of Microbiology notes which would come handy if you are preparing for PG entrance or competitive examinations.

Also, general medical notes for pre-PG preparation for medical students can be found here.

Keywords: Microbiology notes, Medical notes, Medical MCQs, PG exam prep, Microbiology short notes

Combating Toxoplasmosis

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:19:00 +0000

A study by a team of scientists at Einstein suggest a novel approach for treating toxoplasmosis caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The results are published in the October 21 in the online edition of the Journal of Immunology, suggest a new approach for treating toxoplasmosis, the disease caused by this parasite.

Toxoplasma. gondii is one of the deadliest members of parasite world, that can infect any warm-blooded animal. Infected people are home to thousands of organisms, many of them residing in brain and most infected people have an inactive, or latent, infection without any symptoms. But in those with compromised immune system like the HIV infected, geriatric and pediatric population, T. gondii can cause serious brain damage.

People become infected by ingesting T. gondii oocysts (the thick-walled spore phase of the parasite found in the infected cats’ feces) or by ingesting undercooked pork or other infected meat. Once the parasite gets swallowed, its tachyzoites multiply by infecting cells and then reproducing several times within each cell. Finally, the parasitic load ruptures its host cell and exits to infect new cells.

While previous in vitro studies had suggested that the tachyzoites go on a five to seven cell division cycles in 2 to 3 days before rupturing the host cell, the recent in vivo study reveals that the replication cycle is much faster.

Also the findings have thrown light on why these parasites burst from the macrophage hosts after just one or two rounds of multiplication. It is the macrophages that rush to the infection site, that signal other macrophages thereby causing the parasite to exit the cells. This clue could possibly put forth in developing newer drugs with this mode of action to eliminate parasites by encouraging infected cells to attack and force the parasite to an early exit.

keywords: Toxoplasma, Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, T.gondii,

Microbiology - Laboratory Tests & Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:13:00 +0000

*S.No*	*List of Tests*	*Sample Required*	*Instrument Required*
1	AFB Smear	Urine/ Body Fluids/ Aspirates/ Sputum etc	MANUAL
2	Blood Culture	Blood sample	BACT ALERT 3D
3	Culture (AFB)	Sputum/ Tissue/ Body Fluids/ Pus/ Aspirates etc	BACTEC 460 TB
4	Culture (Bacterial)	Pus/ Body Fluids/ CSF/ Throat swab / Sputum/Biopsy etc	MANUAL
5	Culture (Fungal)	Pus/ Body Fluids/ CSF/ Throat swab / Sputum/Biopsy etc	MANUAL
6	KOH Mount for fungal elements	Scrapings, Pus, Sputum, Body Fluids etc	MANUAL
7	Gram Stain	Pus/ Body Fluids/ CSF/ Culture / Sputum etc	MANUAL
8	Hanging Drop for Cholera	Stool	MANUAL
9	Urethral Smear -Gonococci	Urethral discharge	MANUAL
10	Bacteriological Testing for Water.	Water	MANUAL
11	Widal	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL
12	Wet Mount for Cryptococcus	CSF	MANUAL
13	Stool Wet Mount & Acid Fast	Stool	MANUAL
14	Identification of GNB(enterobacteriaceae)	Urine/ Stool/ Pus/ Sputum etc.	API/ MANUAL
15	Antibiotic sensitivity	Urine/ Stool/ Pus/ Sputum/Enterobacteriaceae etc	API/ MANUAL
16	Smear for diphtheria	Throat swab	MANUAL
17	Typhidot	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL
18	A S O Titre	Blood sample (Clotted)	COBAS 6000
19	Amoebic Serology IgG	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
20	CRP Quantitative	Blood sample (Clotted)	COBAS 6000
21	Cysticercosis Serology	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
22	Dengue Serology	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL
23	H. Pylori - IgG	Blood sample (Clotted)	IMMULITE
24	HAV - IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	COBAS 6000
26	HBcore – IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	VIDAS
27	HBe Antibodies	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM
28	HBe Antigen	Blood sample (Clotted)	VIDAS
29	HBsAg	Blood sample (Clotted)	COBAS 6000
30	HBs Antibodies	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM
31	HCV Antibodies	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM
32	HEV - IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
33	HSV - IgG	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
34	HSV - IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
35	HSV 2 IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
36	RA Factor Quantitative	Blood sample (Clotted)	Cobas 6000
37	RPR	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL
38	Rubella IgG	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM
39	Rubella IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	VIDAS
40	TB ELISA - IgG	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
41	TB ELISA - IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
42	TB ELISA - IgA	Blood sample (Clotted)	MANUAL/ Elisa Reader
43	Toxo-IgG	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM
44	Toxo-IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM
45	TORCH IgM	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM/VIDAS
46	TORCH IgG	Blood sample (Clotted)	AXSYM/VIDAS
47	Dengue NS 1 Antigen	Blood sample (clotted)	ELISA Reader

Shroud of Turin - still a mystery in shroud

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:56:00 +0000

There are always some issues that remain suspended in the air, which cannot be explained, proved or testified. Though mankind has made a breakthrough in almost all fields of science, there are so many things that are beyond what the human brain can grasp.

"The shroud of Turin" is one among them. The shroud of Turin is a woven cloth about 14 feet long and 3.5 feet wide with an image of a crucified man on it. It is believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. The imprint shows the peculiar characteristics that usually belong to a photographic negative. The Shroud of Turin remains one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Since the sixteenth century, the Shroud, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Christ, has been kept in St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Turin, Italy. The previous public exhibition was in 1998 and, the next display is scheduled on 2025.

No single artifact of the past has so exemplified the interface between science and religion as the Shroud of Turin. The shroud has been subjected to numerous scientific tests over the years culminating in 1988 with a radiocarbon measurement and dating procedure. The testing of the shroud and the conclusions reached lie basically in two areas, the physical shroud itself and the very unique image of the shroud.

The evidences for and against the authenticity of the Shroud are listed below,

For

It is claimed that the blood in the cloth belongs to AB blood group and DNA analysis revealed that it belongs to an adult male.

A team of microbiologists from Health Science Centre , after examining the microscopic samples have concluded that the Shroud of Turin is centuries older than its Carbon date. The Fungi and bacteria that have grown over the shroud’s fibres for centuries were actually carbon dated.

Since the image present is actually a negative image, various questions were raised as how it could have been created. Some of the possibilities put forward for the creation of images include: the body produced a chemical gas that imprinted the image on the cloth or by some contact mechanism or by the Volkinger Effect or by heat scorch or by X ray.

Pathologists who studied the Shroud report as the man is dead in a state of rigor mortis. Piercing wonds in wrists and feet are observed. Abrasion and compression marks are observed on scourge wounds of shoulders supposedly caused by a heavy weight!!!.There is dirt on the knees and on feet containing aragonite limestone found only in Israel.

It is claimed that the cloth has some pollen grains and images on it that are of plants found only in the Dead sea region of Israel.A botanist from Jerusalem has identified the pollen from a particular weed that is found only around Jerusalem. Even the crown of thorns was made of this type weed.Researchers have found the impressions of flowers on the shroud and that those flowers could only come from Israel.

The rivulets of blood flowing from the wrist wounds could only occur only if the arms were stretched out approximately 65 degrees to the horizon.

While most of the medieval representations of crucifixion show nails through palm, here accurately they are observed through the wrist, between radius and ulna bones (to support the weight of body).

Against

Research at McCrone Research Institute revealed that there is no blood in any image area. Red ochre and Vermilion paint were found in the tests and forensic tests for blood were uniformly negative.

Radio carbon dating studies carried out independently at Oxford University, University of Arizona and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology dated the cloth as originating in medieval times, around 1350.

Since the image in the shroud is the negative image of a man, critics question as how could that happen? According a microchemist Walter McCrone, a male model was covered in a red coloured pigment and pressed his forehead, cheekbones and other parts of his head and body on to the linen to create the image.

Critics point out that the head is 5% too large for its body, nose is disproportionate and arms are too long.

The weave of the cloth is said to be typical of the weave wealthy jews would have had in the time of Jesus. The weave of the wealthy jew doesn’t seem consistent with the kind of people Jesus supposedly hung out with.

There are as much number of theories prevailing to prove its authenticity and as much that it’s a forged one. Critics claim that historical, iconographic, pathological, physical and chemical evidence points to inauthenticity and the Shroud of Turin is just another.

Published previously in Nilacharal.com

Superantigens

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:19:00 +0000

‘Superantigens’ – (coined by Kapplar and Marrack in 1990) are a class of antigens which cause non-specific activation of T-cells resulting in polyclonal T cell activation and massive cytokine release. They are produced by pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses, mycoplasma, and bacteria as a defense mechanism against the immune system. Compared to a normal antigen-induced T-cell response where 0.001 to 0.0001% of the body’s T-cells are activated, these Superantigens are capable of activating up to 20% of the body’s T-cells.

Superantigens differ in 3 respects from conventional antigens:

1. They are not processed into peptides and associate with the MHC Class II molecules outside the polymorphic peptide-binding groove.

2. Although they require MHC Class II molecules for presentation, the T-cell response is not MHC-restricted and superantigens can be presented across species barriers.

3. Superantigens interact with T-cell receptor over the Vβ segment only, regardless of third hyper variable regions and Vα expression.

By the action of superantigens, the T-cells are stimulated and produce excess amounts of cytokine resulting in cytokine-mediated suppression of T-cells and deletion of the activated cells as the body returns to homeostasis. If the initial inflammation is survived, the host cells become anergic or are deleted, resulting in a severely compromised immune system.

Superantigen stimulation of antigen presenting cells and T-cells elicits mainly inflammatory responses focused on the action of Th1 T-helper cells. Some of the major products are IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α), MIP-1β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). This excessive uncoordinated release of cytokines, (especially TNF-α), overloads the body and results in to rashes, fever, and can lead to multi-organ failure, coma and death.

They are also known to play a role in allergy and autoimmune mechanisms. Superantigens can be broadly classified as exogenous – comprising bacterial toxins and endogenous -comprising virally encoded superantigens. Endogenous superantigens have not been identified so far in humans.

Bacterial Superantigens:

1. Toxic Shock Syndrome – Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes

2. Food poisoning – Staphylococcal enterotoxins

3. Atopic dermatitis – Staphylococcal

4. Kawasaki Syndrome

5. Psoriasis & scalded skin syndrome

Fungal Superantigens:

1. Atopic dermatitis – Malassezia furfur

Viral Superantigens:

1. HIV – Clonal deletion, anergy, apoptosis

2. Rabies

3. Epstein-Barr virus

4. Cytomegalo virus

Treatment of Superantigen mediated diseases:

Depending on the toxin, supportive therapy and antibiotics are administered. Pooled intravenous immunoglobulins are used to treat TSS.

Superantigens as therapeutic agents:

Superantigens have been implicated in the treatment of cancers and more studies are directed to explore further applications of superantigens in therapeutics.

PhD Thesis - Joke

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:48:00 +0000

It was a fine sunny day, a rabbit was sitting outside his laboratory and tapping on his computer.

A fox came out, on seeing the rabbit on computer he eagerly asked, " O" rabbit what made you so busy with computer"
Rabbit simply replied I finished my lab work; I am typing my Ph.D thesis. "What is your research topic" Fox asked.
Rabbit: Jut simple "How foxes were eaten by rabbits"
Fox: "That's ridiculous! Any fool knows that rabbits don't eat foxes."
Rabbit: "they did so and I can prove this".
To prove that, rabbit took fox in his laboratory. After a few minutes only Rabbit returned, and resume typing.

Soon, a wolf came and stopped on watch the hardworking rabbit. Wolf asked same question as fox. Rabbit replied I am going to submit my Ph.D thesis, entitled "How wolves were eaten by rabbits".
Wolf: "Do you expect such type of rubbished things, does the scientific committee will accept it. Rabbit: "No problem, but I can show you."
Rabbit took wolf in to his laboratory and again few minutes later only the rabbit returned and continued his work.
Do you know what was really happening inside the rabbit's laboratory?.

Let's make a move to rabbit's laboratory.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Inside the laboratory in one corner, there is a pile of fox bones. In another corner, a pile of wolf bones and on the other side of the room, a huge lion was belching and picking his teeth. Basically lion was the rabbit's advisor and guiding him for Ph.D.

Moral of the story:

It doesn't matter what topic you have chosen for research, and what research you are doing. But it always matter who is your advisor and how he is using you.

Related Posts:

1. Microbiology Jokes

2. Microbiology Cartoons

Job vacancies - Medical College Nov09

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:38:00 +0000

The Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Medical College,an autonomous institution of the Government of Puducherry invites applications for the posts of Professor, Assosiate Professor &Assistant Professor in Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine,Community Medicine, General Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopaedics,Anaesthesiology, Radio diagnosis, Dermatology, Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases, from Indian Nationals
fulfilling the MCI regulations of minimum qualification for teachers in Medical Institutions, (Amendment) Regulations 2009. Candidates from Government / Autonomous Institutions will be considered on deputation basis also.

For more details on these Job openings, Click here...

For application, Click here.

Keywords: PKMC, Kamaraj Medical College, Kamarajar Medical College, Medical College Pondy, Microbiology jobs, Microbiology job vacancy

Answers for Medical microbiology Quiz - Oct09

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:28:00 +0000

Find below the answers for the Medical Microbiology Quiz - Oct 2009 in green...

1. A toxin identical to diphtheria toxin is produced by many strains of ………..

a. P.aeruginosa b. Pr.mirabilis

c. Y.enterocolitica d. F.tularensis

2. New born infants may develop meningitis when infected with K1 antigen bearing strains of ….

a. E.coli b. Pr.vulgaris

c. S.marcescens d. K.pneumoniae

3. Pontiac fever is best diagnosed by ……..

a. culturing Legionella from blood samples

b. detecting Legionella antigen in urine

c. identifying rise in titre of antibody to Legionella in a convalescent serum sample

d. identifying rise in titre of antibody to Legionella during first week of infection

4. Lyme disease is usually acquired via bite of …….

a. larva of Ixodes tick b. nymph of Ixodes tick

c. adult of Ixodes tick d. adult of Dermacentor tick

5. The lack of tolerance of strict anaerobes to molecular oxygen is attributed to their ……

e. lack of cytochromes

f. lack of superoxide dismutase &/or catalase

g. lack of Kreb’s cycle

h. lack of peptidoglycan in cell wall

6. Cr.gattii is differentiated from other two varieties of Cr.neoformans by producing cobalt blue color colonies on …….

a. L-Canavanine Glycine Bromothymol Blue Agar

b. Creatinine Dextrose Bromothymol Blue Agar

c. Niger seed agar

d. Christensen’s urea agar

7. Rodents serve as human reservoir for infection in ……….

a. Interstitial pneumonia b. Cryptococcosis

c. Coccidioidomycosis d. Dermatophytosis

8. S.Typhimurium used as a carrier for ……… vaccination

a. Penicilliosis b. Pneumocystosis

c. Coccidioidomycosis d. Paracoccidiodomycosis

9. The fungus which have predilection to vasculature is ……..

a. Aspergillus b. Zygomycetes

c. Candida d. Penicillium

10 ……… produce red fluorescence on wood’s lamp examination

a. Corynebacterium minutissimum b. Microsporum

c. Trichophyton d. Malassezia furfur

Thanks to Ms. Shlyu, Mr. Harish Chander, Dr.Jaisri, Dr. Amuthaveni and Ms. Zaineb for their interest in paricipating in the Quiz... Ms. Zaineb is the top scorer (70%), followed by Mr. Harish (50%), Shylu (40%), Dr. Jaisri (30%) and Dr.Amuthaveni (10%).

Cryopreservation of PBMCs - FAQs

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:54:00 +0000

C ryopreserved Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are a common specimen source for studies of immunological responses to vaccines, immunotherapies, etc. The health and viability of cells recovered post-cryopreservation are of course critical to the success and accuracy of immunological assays performed on them. Studies have previously shown that the results of functional assays are strictly dependent on the viability of the cryopreserved PBMC.

The utility of cryopreserved PBMC for functional immunological assays is predicated on their viability and functional ability in vitro. The use of cryopreserved PBMC in immunological assays poses challenges, including the availability of adequate equipment and the need for technical proficiency. Assays must be adapted and validated for the use of cryopreserved PBMC, and the quality of the frozen cells has to be monitored to ensure reliable results in functional and phenotypic assays.

Frequently asked questions in cryopreservation of PBMCs:

Are Ficoll-Hyopaque and Histopaque-1077 the same?
What is the difference between Ficoll overlaying and underlayering technique?
Why do I have to remove the supernatant - HBSS-Plasma layer?
Why I can't remove all the density gradient?
How much supernatant should I leave before isolating the PBMC band?
Should I remove the cells stuck to the side of the test tube?
What should I do if I accidentally mix the layered blood with ficoll?
Why do we need to use a centrifuge with swinging-bucket rotor?
Can a vertical rotor be used with Ficoll?
What temperature should I use during centrifugation?
What speed and time should I use in my centrifuge?
What should I check if I do not get a PBMC layer?
How much buffer do I need for my cell wash and why?
What is the total number of cell washes?
How much buffer is left in my test tube after I decant the supernatant?
What volume of buffer should I use to re-suspend my pellets?
What is the Forward pipetting technique?
What are the effects of how I pipette?
What are some common pipetting technique errors?
What type of plasticwares should I use?
Are powdered gloves acceptable for processing PBMCs?
What is the pH, solution storage requirement and length of time that cells can stay in trypan blue?
What are some common problems with a Hemocytometer?
How to perform an accurate count?
What are the formula for cell counts?
What is the purpose of using DMSO?
How much DMSO do I need to add to cyropreservation media?
Cooling rate for Mr.Frosty and Rate Control Freezer
How do we know a reagent is stable?
Causes for unsatisfactory performance?

Click here for a presentation that answers all these FAQ...

Source: Tania Garrelts/Raul Louzao,Duke University School of Medicine, IQA Center

Keywords: PBMC, Cryopreservation, Peripheral blood, LN2 storage, Cryo, PBMC isolation, DMSO

Viral Hepatitis

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:43:00 +0000

Presentation / Lecture notes on Hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis

Follow Invisible yet invincible

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:58:00 +0000

IYI is at Twitter,

Click here to follow the updates at IYI...

Medical Microbiology Quiz - Oct 09

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:11:00 +0000

1. A toxin identical to diphtheria toxin is produced by many strains of ………..

a. P.aeruginosa b. Pr.mirabilis

c. Y.enterocolitica d. F.tularensis

2. New born infants may develop meningitis when infected with K1 antigen bearing strains of ….

a. E.coli b. Pr.vulgaris

c. S.marcescens d. K.pneumoniae

3. Pontiac fever is best diagnosed by ……..

a. culturing Legionella from blood samples

b. detecting Legionella antigen in urine

c. identifying rise in titre of antibody to Legionella in a convalescent serum sample

d. identifying rise in titre of antibody to Legionella during first week of infection

4. Lyme disease is usually acquired via bite of …….

a. larva of Ixodes tick b. nymph of Ixodes tick

c. adult of Ixodes tick d. adult of Dermacentor tick

5. The lack of tolerance of strict anaerobes to molecular oxygen is attributed to their ……

e. lack of cytochromes

f. lack of superoxide dismutase &/or catalase

g. lack of Kreb’s cycle

h. lack of peptidoglycan in cell wall

6. Cr.gattii is differentiated from other two varieties of Cr.neoformans by producing cobalt blue color colonies on …….

a. L-Canavanine Glycine Bromothymol Blue Agar

b. Creatinine Dextrose Bromothymol Blue Agar

c. Niger seed agar

d. Christensen’s urea agar

7. Rodents serve as human reservoir for infection in ……….

a. Interstitial pneumonia b. Cryptococcosis

c. Coccidioidomycosis d. Dermatophytosis

8. S.Typhimurium used as a carrier for ……… vaccination

a. Penicilliosis b. Pneumocystosis

c. Coccidioidomycosis d. Paracoccidiodomycosis

9. The fungus which have predilection to vasculature is ……..

a. Aspergillus b. Zygomycetes

c. Candida d. Penicillium

10 ……… produce red fluorescence on wood’s lamp examination

a. Corynebacterium minutissimum b. Microsporum

c. Trichophyton d. Malassezia furfur

- Quiz compiled by Ms. Sweetha

Enter your answers in Comments section or email to Invisibleyetinvincible@gmail.com.Surprise Gifts await the first three all- correct entries.

Keywords: Microbiology Quiz, Microbiology MCQs, Medical Micro Quiz

Why Nobel Prize eludes Scientists in India?

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:11:00 +0000

All these are facts most of us can perceive ‘inside’ but feel bitter to explicitly ‘speak out’!

1. We are poor in planning: Most of our Indian professors are still reeling with 'old-world' techniques and are not good at updating! They spend their time in having coffee and waste time in politicising whatever they came across! They hardly find time to update technological innovations and are in a 'bad-mood' to experiment new things! All because they have limited funding and they 'channelise' the funding and so cannot think about 'high-impact-science' articles!

2. Most of our Indian professors are poor in English: Our professors cannot speak/understand/write good English! They are good at criticizing others but they themselves aren't aware that their backyards are 'soiled'! They hardly think about participating in 'high-wire journal clubs' and are concerned always about sending their students to 'pay their personal electricity bills, sending their students to 'buy good quality rice, pepper and sometimes washing their cars and sometimes even dropping their children at school. Some want their students to 'pick them up' every morning from home and some want their students to get tea and snacks from a high quality restaurants! (if he/she doesn't abide his/her life will be shattered 100%) How can you expect a nobel prize?

3. Our infrastructure is poor: Although just a delay in procuring the chemicals required for experiments we cannot say that our research is poor! The net outcome within a particular duration matters! Our infrastructure has to be refurbished! All old instrumentations and 'glasswares' need to be replaced with state-of-the-art automated polypropylene instruments! Technicians need to be trained with updated technical expertise!

4. Bribe in university appointments: How can one anticipate nobel prize in a country with their high-level university administration involving themselves in bribe? How is this possible?? Right from the appointment of a peon to the ‘highest-level’ recruitment our system is handicapped with 'corruption'! Yes, we stand in the 80’s after the 'very-poor' African countries in corruption! Pathetic! Can you ever dream a nobel?

4. Most are back-pullers in India: This is the reason why most of our Indian brothers go abroad where there are 'very-few and rare-back-pullers'! One man cannot tolerate others growth! Never in India!! And the other guy cannot be tolerant enough always to 'feel the pinch' given by the 'back-puller'! A fellow Indian will 'pull down' the 'other person's' leg everytime he tries to win a prize! Ask yourself if it’s true!! This is there right from private to government systems, everywhere 'in India' except a very few people who really cares for you! Will you ever dream a Nobel prize in India???? Will you??? No...Never...ever!!!

5. A student cannot propose a new concept to his superior: Never! He will be banged! 'Do what I say!!...You are not the boss....(But when he went to his boss his boss never knew how to calculate volume and concentration!!!)! If he/she ever complained this to someone he/she will be warned that 'you cannot survive anywhere'! My god, can we dream of Nobel laureates? Never...

6. You can never speak out: Dictatorship is the most common thing you get to see in most of the Indian institutions! You could hardly speak to your institute director! Why because he is always busy or he has many 'sub-ordianates' who could help you solve the problem! Every citizen has the right to live and speak out what is wrong and where the glitch is!! We hardly have the right to speak!! And we hardly speak to our inferiors! Imagine (including recent Nobel awardee, Dr. Ramakrishnan) it's all your students and postdocs who got you this laurel (of course you acknowledged this at Karolinska..)! Acknowledge due credit to your students always, be it your master students, your postdocs and even your peons and personal attendants....should one day this 'otherwise-rare-thing' to happen! It’s all your hard-work, perseverance, prayers, obedience, equality, mutual respect and more importantly 'human-values' that will gradually bring our country on top! And as far as an Indian student could perceive, Nobel prize is for NOBLE people who live and toil in SCIENCE for years and decades and not for us ' Indians' who hardly find time to sit and think and write grants! Lets feel proud that this Prof. Ramakrishnan during his student tenure ‘managed’ to escape from the corrupt Indian system, from back-pullers and so so... to win this feat!

Sorry, if I had hurt someone so badly!!! This is the truth! Ask your conscience, if I am right!!!

- Dr. E.M. Shankar

Health care associated Infections (HAI)

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:24:00 +0000

When someone develops an infection at a hospital or other patient care facility that they did not have prior to treatment, this is referred to as a healthcare-associated (sometimes hospital-acquired) infection (HAI). Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any point in time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infections acquired in hospitals. A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report published in March-April 2007 estimated the number of U.S. deaths from healthcare asociated infections in 2002 at 98,987.The risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections in developing countries is 2-20 times higher than in developed countries. Afflicting thousands of patients every year, HAI often leads to lengthening hospitalization, increasing the likelihood of readmission, and adding sizably to the cost of care per patient.

Types of Healthcare-Associated Infections

Ventilator - Associated Pneumonia (VAP)
VAP is the source of the highest morbidity and mortality of all Healthcare Associated Infections.

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs)
Any breach of patient skin can lead to a surgical site infection.

Cross Con tamination (Contact Transfer)
Contact transfer (touch contamination) is the number one source of Healthcare Associated Infections.

The HA I Education Program is part of a national infection awareness campaign for healthcare professionals called “Not on My Watch” and will provide the facility with a toolkit that contains informational flyers, patient safety tips and posters. The "Not on My Watch" campaign provides accredited continuing education (CE) programs based on best practices and guidelines as well as research available on reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections.
For details about the "Not On My Watch" campaign, please visit http://www.haiwatch.com/.

Related Posts:

1. Operation Theatre sterilization by Fumigation

Bugs of peritrichous-flagella 'swarm' together

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:18:00 +0000

Proteus, belonging to the tribe Proteae, is a part of normal gastrointestinal flora, widely distributed in nature as saprophytes. These bacteria are non capsulated, motile rods by peritrichous flagella. They exhibit a wide range of biochemical and antigenic heterogenicity. They are causative agents for urinary tract infection, wound infection and pneumonia. The genus Proteus includes two species of clinical importance – P.mirabilis and P.vulgaris. They grow on almost all simple media and easily identified by its swarming motility and fishy odor.

SWARMING:

A notable property of Proteus is the ability to swarm on solid media. Discrete colonies are seen in young cultures but thereafter actively motile cells spread on the surface of plate in successive waves to form a thin layer in concentric circles.

WHY DO THE PROTEUS SWARM ?

Swarming takes place in a discontinuous manner each period of outward progress followed by a stationary period.

# multinucleate cells (swarm cells) synthesis numerous number of flagella

# acidic polysaccharide slime helps in swarming

# negative chemotactic factors accumulate during growth

# moisture on agar surface

swarming growth is a problem in the laboratory when mixed growth is obtained in which Proteus bacilli overgrown with other bacteria.

METHODS TO PREVENT SWARMING:

Several methods have been devised to inhibit swarming of Proteus.

1. AGENTS WHICH ALTER GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS:

Ø Bile salts in Mac Conkey agar inhibits growth of Proteus

Ø Sodium azide in a concentration of about 1:500- inhibits growth

2. INHIBITION OF MOTILITY:

Ø Increase in concentration of agar upto 6% inhibits migration of Proteus and consequently isolated colonies are formed.

Ø 0.02% tannic acid –tannic acid binds to outer membrane of cell wall inhibiting the movement of flagella.

Ø 20mM salicylate decreases motility of Proteus.

3. AGENTS WHICH ACT ON FLAGELLA PRODUCTION:

Ø Incorporation of Boric acid – 1:1000 form complex with flagellin and cause disintegration of flagella. Thus inhibiting migration and prevent swarming.

Ø 1x10⁶ Plaque forming units/ml – Phage X₇ is a flagellotropic phage for Proteus.

Ø The addition of 0.2 ml of phage spread over the surface of agar plates and immediately immobilizes the Proteus.

Ø In fish meal extract agar with NaCl swarm cells were not formed due to deficiency of glutathione, viscous environment and flagella rotation inhibition.

Ø Effect of sodium tetradecyl sulfate immobilizes the strain by inhibition of flagella formation or by some lytic action on flagella.

Ø Phenyl ethyl alcohol – concentration of 5 to 6% impairs flagella function but leaves the flagellum morphologically intact.

Ø Addition of ferrous salts to protease peptone medium inhibits flagellar function without affecting growth of the organism.

4. DEFICIENCY OF ELECTROLYTES:

Ø Cystine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient medium (CLED) – peptone base agar with lactose and L-cystine restriction of electrolytes inhibits swarming of Proteus.

5. OTHERS WHICH PREVENT SWARMING:

Ø Media containing activated charcoal (1% w/v charcoal in nutrient agar base) inhibits swarming but not the growth of Proteus. The suppression depends on the concentration of charcoal in medium. It does not interfere with flagella production.

Ø Chloral hydrate and Sulphonamide inhibits swarming when added to media.

Ø Predried plates with para nitro phenyl glycerine inhibits swarming without imparing motility. It has long shelf life, heat stable and convenient to use in preparation of media.

Ø Sodium desoxycholate - Leifson BD desoxycholate agar prevents swarming

Ø Anionic detergents such as sodium alkyl sulfate in concentration of 0.1m mol/L without affecting its growth

Ø Selective Proteeae medium (SPM) contains tryptose phosphate agar, phenolphthalein monophosphate, bile salts and polymixin B – inhibits swarming.

Ø Bismuth Sulphite in Wilson Blair medium.

Ø Use of monopterenes (terpenes & terpenoids) and psychotropic drugs (serotonin & sertalin) inhibit swarming of Proteus.

- Ms. Sweetha & Ms. Subha

Keywords: Proteus, Swarming motility, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Swarming Proteus

Nobel Laureate's CV

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Source of Inspiration.

....

Click here to have a look at the CV of Nobel Laureate Dr. Ramakrishnan Venkatraman.

New Insights in Management of Antibiotic Resistance

nagaibms@gmail.com (AN) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:31:00 +0000

International seminar on

"New Insights in the Management of Antibiotic Resistance -NISMAR2009"

Organized by

Department of Microbiology

Dr. A.L.M Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences

University of Madras

Taramani

Chennai - 113.

International Seminar Venue: Triple Helix Auditorium CLRI Campus Adayar

To Download Registration form: Click Here! or Download

To Download Scientific Sessions: Click Here! or Download

Last date for Registration: 20October 2009

Last date for Submitting abstract for poster presentation: 20October 2009

Date of International Seminar: 26th October 2009

Send your filled in registration forms on or before ௨0 October 2009 to

Dr. Padma Krishnan

Organizing secretary

NISMAR2009

Assistant Professor

Department of Microbiology

Dr. A.L.M Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences

University of Madras

Chennai - 113.

For More Details: Contact us at nismar2009@gmail.com or Call: 9840742105

Lecture Notes - For Microbiology Students

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:25:00 +0000

Bored of treading along fine prints of text books and ebooks ? Try these Microbiology lecture notes for a quick brushing up of subject

1. Basic Microbiology Lecture Notes

2. Medical Microbiology Lecture Notes - Bacteriology, Immunology, Mycology, Virology...

3. Microbiology Lecture Notes as Powerpoint presentations

4. Microbiology Lab Manual

Related Posts:

1. Microbiology Resources

2. Preparing Conference Abstracts & Presentations

3. Making an effective presentation

4. Microbiology Lecture notes

Keywords: Microbiology lecture notes, Microbiology, Life sciences, Lecture notes, References

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2009

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Australian-American researcher Elizabeth Blackburn and Carol Greider and Jack Szostak of the United States won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2009 for identifying a key switch in cellular ageing.

The trio were honoured for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the role of an enzyme called telomerase in maintaining or stripping away this molecular shield.

For more info:http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2009/

Related Posts:

1. European Trio bag the Nobel

Keywords: Nobel Prize, Nobel 2009, Nobel Prize Medicine, Nobel Prize Physiology, Nobel, chromosome

It’s Raining Bacteriaahhhh…..

noreply@blogger.com (CRS) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:45:00 +0000

Watch out……… A nice cool shower on a sunny day may get you into some bacterial infection. A recent study says showerheads can harbour tiny bacteria that come spraying into your face when you wash.

Though it is a bit comforting that, people with normal immune systems need not fear, but these microbes could be a concern for those with immune suppression like people infected with HIV, cancer patients, geriatrics, transplant recipients.

Researchers at the University of Colorado tested 45 showers in five states as part of a larger study of the microbiology of air and water in homes, schools and public buildings. The researchers offer suggestions for the wary, such as getting all-metal showerheads, which microbes have a harder time clinging to. Still, showerheads are full of nooks and crannies, making them hard to clean, the researchers note, and the microbes come back even after treatment with bleach.

The bugs in question are Mycobacterium avium, which have been linked to lung disease in some people. Indeed, studies by the National Jewish Hospital in Denver suggest increases in pulmonary infections in the United States in recent decades from species like M. avium may be linked to people taking more showers and fewer baths. Symptoms of infection can include tiredness, a persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, weakness and "generally feeling bad.

The researchers sampled water flowing from the showerheads, then removed them, swabbed the interiors of the devices and separately sampled water flowing from the pipes without the showerheads. By studying the DNA of the samples they were able to determine which bacteria were present. They found that the bacteria tended to build up in the showerhead, where they were much more common than in the incoming feed water.

In previous work, M. avium was found in soap scum on vinyl shower curtains and above the water surface of warm therapy pools. M. avium can be a danger because in a shower "the organism is aerosolized where you can inhale it."

Now face the bacterium head to head………. Click the link below for more details

“Opportunistic pathogens enriched in showerhead biofilms” by Leah M. Feazel, Laura K. Baumgartner, Kristen L. Peterson, Daniel N. Frank, J. Kirk Harris, and Norman R. Pace [http://www.pnas.org/content/106/38/16393]

Sore Throat - Warm Salt Water Gargling

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:29:00 +0000

Sore throats are sore due to inflammation. Usually, the inflammation is due to a viral or bacterial infection (the common cold, and strep throat, are examples of each). However, sore throat may also be related to allergies or physical injury to the throat. In each case, an inflammatory response has been triggered. Pain, swelling and an itchy or irritated sensation are the common symptoms of this inflammatory response.

As part of the inflammatory response, there is an increase in the water content of the involved tissues. With respect to sore throat, a sense of fullness and difficulty swallowing are both related to edema of the tissue lining the throat (mucosa).

If the gargle has a higher salt concentration than your intrinsic salt concentration, it will tend to draw out some of the edema fluid from the mucosa of the throat (Osmosis). This will make your "sore throat" symptoms better. The relief is very real, but also tends to be short-lived, since the gargle has done nothing to remove the cause of the sore throat. It also has effect on killing the bacteria in the same principle.

Make the gargle salty enough (2 tablespoon for 500ml water), and you will dessicate the mucosa and pathogen of the throat by gargling for 2 minutes (3 times/day for 2 days). This could lead to even greater irritation than what you started with!. If symptom persists consult your doctor.

Microbiology Careers

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:26:00 +0000

The Website of the Society for General Microbiology, UK has a treasure trough of Microbiology resources.

Microbiology Careers is one such treasure for Young Microbiologists...

Keywords: Microbiology career, Microbiology Job vacancies, Microbiology jobs

Nanotechnology, where the future is!

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:29:00 +0000

Remember the spine-chilling thriller novel, “Prey” by Michael Crichton that introduced to and terrorized the readers with the swarm of nanoparticles with AI?

The prefix “nano” is actually derived from an ancient Greek word “nano” which means dwarf. In its present usage, nanoscience is the study of materials and events at the level of a billionth of a meter, which is equivalent to the width of ten hydrogen atoms laid side by side, or one-thousandth the length of a typical bacterium, or a fifty-thousandth the width of a human hair, or one-millionth the size of a pinhead. By definition, nanotechnology refers to research and development on structures that have at least one of the dimensions less than 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology is the domain where the sciences: physics, chemistry and biology, meet.

Nanotechnology has the potential to create many new materials and devices with wide-ranging applications, such as in medicine and newer diagnostics.

Click here to view a presentation on “Nanotechnology in Clinical Diagnostics” and here for “Nanotechnology in Diagnostics and Drug Delivery”.

For Application of nanotechnology in medical diagnostic, click here.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, Nanoscience, Nanotech,

Nanotechnology in Microbiology, Nanotechnology in Diagnostics

Molecular & Cellular Pathways - Graphics

vgnshrm@gmail.com (Vignesh) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:36:00 +0000

Immunology

Click here for more interactive graphic models of molecular & cellular pathways

Immunology

Activation of Csk by cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Inhibits Signaling through the T Cell Receptor
Interaction of T cell receptor with specific antigen in the context of MHC II activates a signal transduction pathway that leads to T cell activation. In the T cell receptor signaling pathway, the src family kinases Lck and Fyn are activated to phos ...

Adaptive Immune Response to Cancer Cells
Tumours arise and progress within a microenvironment that is replete with healthy, non-transformed cells. Crosstalk between normal and neoplastic cells influence various stages of carcinogenesis. Cancer-bearing hosts can frequently mount innate and a ...

Adaptor Proteins and Signal Transduction in T-cells
Activation of the Engagement of the TCR by peptide/MHC complexes results in the activation of a number of protein-tyrosine kinases, including members of the src family, LCK and FYN-T, and syk family, ZAP-70 and SYK. Activated protein-tyrosine kinases ...

Adhesion and Diapedesis of Granulocytes
Cell adhesion is a fundamental feature of multicellular organisms including their defense mechanisms. In the later case in mammals, leukocytes play central role. They bind bacteria, parasites, viruses, tumor cells etc. Furthermore, their interactions ...

Adhesion and Diapedesis of Lymphocytes
Cell adhesion is a fundamental feature of multicellular organisms including their defense mechanisms. In the later case in mammals, leukocytes play central role. They bind bacteria, parasites, viruses, tumor cells etc. Furthermore, their interactions ...

Adhesion Molecules on Lymphocyte
B cell and T cell lymphocytes interact with a variety of cells as part of their immune function, circulating and homing in on specific stimuli in tissues like inflammatory signals. The interaction of lymphocytes with other cell types like vascular en ...

Ahr Signal Transduction Pathway
The Ah receptor, bHLH/PAS transcription factor, upon binding of an agonist such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin translocates into the nucleus and heterodimerizes with the transcription factor ARNT. The Ahreceptor/ARNT heterodimer binds to diox ...

Alpha-synuclein and Parkin-mediated proteolysis in Parkinson's disease
The motor defects of Parkinson

Alternative Complement Pathway
The complement system of plasma proteins is an important part of the immune system that forms a cascade of factors that lyses foreign cells. There are two branches of the complement system, the classical pathway that is initiated by antibody-antigen ...

Anthrax Toxin Mechanism of Action
One of the key causes of anthrax virulence is the production of three specific factors by the gram-positive spore forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Even with successful antibiotic treatment, anthrax toxins can remain in the circulation and cause ...

Keywords: Pathways, Cellular & Molecular pathways, graphic models, cellular signaling