iNVISIBLE YET iNVINCIBLE

Workshop on International Standard ISO 15189:2012 #GCLP2019

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 01:30:00 +0000

Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) outline the quality system principles and procedures to be followed by medical laboratories involved in patient care and/or clinical research so as to provide consistent, reproducible, auditable, and reliable laboratory results. This workshop on international standard is designed to offer comprehensive guidance on implementing GCLP in the clinical laboratories and also to provide the participants with understanding of the requirements of the ISO 15189: 2012 standard.

Date: 26-28^th April, 2019

Venue: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (SRIHER), Chennai, India

To register, click here.

For more information on GCLP Workshop 2019, please visit http://yrgcare.org/gclp/

4th International Conference on Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:43:00 +0000

Fourth International Conference on Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (ICTMID 2019), organized by Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kuala lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP) and Centre for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, UniKL RCMP, is scheduled on 23 to 25th April, 2019 at Premiera Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The theme of this conference is 'Combating Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Through Exploring New Frontiers in Research".

Key topics to be addressed in the conference include:

Mosquito-borne diseases - Novel Control Technologies (Transgenic Mosquitoes)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - Updates
Tuberculosis - Recent Advances
Vaccines - Latest Developments
Neglected Tropical Diseases - Advances in Control Methods
Bioinformatics in Combating Infectious Diseases
Latest Diagnostic Techniques
Public Health Practices - Advances in Control Strategies
Food & Water-borne infections - New Insights in Prevention
Nosocomial Infections - Newer Concepts in Control
Genomic Tools in Disease Control
Zoonosis - One Health Concept

Registration is now Open !

For more details on registration and Abstract submission, please visit the conference website: www.ictmid.com/

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Paper to cut through Microbes!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Thu, 04 May 2017 07:10:00 +0000

A team of researchers from Rutgers has invented an inexpensive and effective way for eliminating bacteria and sanitizing surfaces with devices made of paper.

Scanning electron micrograph of E.coli

[By Photo courtesy CDC/Janice Haney Carr. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons]

In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they have explained that, by application of high voltage to stacked sheets of metallized paper, they were able to generate plasma, which is a combination of heat, ultraviolet radiation and ozone that could kill microorganisms. The invention comprises paper with thin layers of aluminum and hexagon patterns serving as electrodes to produce the plasma, or ionized gas. The fibrous and porous nature of paper allows gas to permeate, fueling the plasma and facilitating cooling mechanism.

In the experiments conducted, the paper-based sanitizers demonstrated elimination of over 99 percent of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and more than 99.9 percent of E. coli. Preliminary results also showed that these sanitizers could kill bacterial spores, which are tough to kill using conventional sterilization methods.

According to the researchers of this study, these paper-based-sanitizers could be used in the future, for clothing that sterilizes itself, devices that sanitize laboratory equipment and smart bandages that could heal wounds. The future work of this team aims to develop electronic devices that bridge the gap between machines and humans, while creating new processing techniques for renewable paper products.

Reference:

Aaron D. Mazzeoa et al. Paper-based plasma sanitizers. PNAS, May 2017 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1621203114

3rd International Conference on Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Tue, 02 May 2017 01:01:00 +0000

Third International Conference on Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases 2017, organized by UniKL RCMP and co-organized by Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is scheduled on 15 to 17th August, 2017 at Premiera Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The theme of this conference is "Global Challenges in Emerging and Re-emerging of Infectious Diseases".

The key topics to be discussed in the conference include,

Issues in childhood vaccination

Drug resistant bacteria in health care setting and community

Zoonoses

Microbes as weapons of mass destruction – Potential threats and preparedness

Zika virus – South America & South East Asia's experience

Diarrhoeal diseases in children

Opportunistic organisms in immunocompromised individuals

MDR (TB/Malaria)

Application of Bioinformatics in diagnosis of infectious diseases

Current situation of EBOLA

Current situation of MERS-CoV

Global food safety

Industry Symposia : Paediatrics Vaccines (Sanofi Pasteur) & New generation of antibiotics

Registration now Open!

For more details on registration and Abstract submission, please visit the conference website: http://www.ictmid2017.com/

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Zika Virus - The New Menace

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 02:33:00 +0000

Zika virus, a member of flaviviridae, was first identified in 1947 in Uganda in rhesus monkeys and subsequently in humans in 1952. It is an emerging mosquito-borne virus and its outbreaks have been reported in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Signs and Symptoms

Following an incubation period that is likely to be a few days, the symptoms include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. These symptoms are usually mild and last for 2-7 days. During large outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil in 2013 and 2015 respectively, potential neurological and auto-immune complications of Zika virus disease were reported. Recently in Brazil, an increase in Zika virus infections in the general public as well as an increase in babies born with microcephaly in northeast Brazil were observed. There have been increasing body of evidence about the link between Zika virus and microcephaly.

Transmission

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from theAedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde). In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus. A case of sexual transmission of Zika virus is reported recently from Texas, US.

Diagnosing Zika virus disease

Zika virus is diagnosed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and virus isolation from blood samples. Diagnosis by serology can be difficult as the virus can cross-react with other flaviviruses such as dengue, West Nile and yellow fever.

Prevention and Treatment

Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines. If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. Currently, there is no vaccine available.

Image courtesy: Khaleejtimes.com

‘Stealth bomb’ antibiotic to exterminate intracellular drug-resistant bacteria

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 04:20:00 +0000

A targeted antibiotic that acts as a ‘Stealth bomb’ could wipe off infections caused by microbes that are resistant to most drugs according to mice studies.

Sanjeev Mariathasan and a team of scientists at Genentec, California, have come up with this strategy of gluing an antibody against Staphylococcus aureus to a modified version of rifampicin. This concept is borrowed from cancer treatment, where an ‘antibody–drug conjugate’ docks onto cancer cells before deploying its cancer-killing payload. Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are difficult to manage with commonly used antibiotics and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality rates. S. aureus is difficult to target and to eliminate once it invades the cells and that is where the antibody-antibiotic combination drug was found to be highly effective. When mice were infected with MRSA and treated with a control drug and with this experimental combination drug, it was found that the experimental drug was about a thousand times effective against MRSA.

The mechanism of action of this combination drug is interesting that, first the antibody component docks onto the bacteria in the mouse’s body and as the bacteria invade cells, the therapy travels along. Once inside, the antibiotic is activated where it is required to kill the pathogen. However, it is to be noted that the immunopathological mechanisms could be different in human body and also that, those chronically infected with S. aureus, would already have antibodies to it which could interfere with the binding process. Further studies are required to evaluate if this experimental drug would work in humans and if it works, it could open doors to newer therapeutic avenues where large resource of antimicrobial drugs that had not survived the pipeline could be brought back.

Reference: Lehar SM et al., (2015) Nature. doi:10.1038/nature16057

Image credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

'Reversing' Type 2 Diabetes - A Scientific Breakthrough

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:05:00 +0000

Scientists from Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the RIKEN Institute, Japan, have found that type 2 diabetes could be ‘reversed’ in laboratory models by dampening the inflammatory responses in fat tissue. In the recently published article in Nature Immunology, Dr Ajith Vasanthakumar, Dr Axel Kallies and colleagues have reported that the regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in controlling inflammation in fat tissue and maintaining insulin sensitivity and have published their findings in Nature Immunology¹.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes with an alarming rise in the prevalence rate. It is strongly linked with ‘lifestyle’ factors, such as being obese or having hypertension and its long-term complications include kidney, eye and heart disease, and there is no cure. People with type 2 diabetes have reduced sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that normally triggers uptake of glucose by cells, and their cells no longer respond to insulin appropriately. This decrease in insulin sensitivity is thought to be a result of long-term, low-level inflammation of fat tissue in people who are obese.

According to Dr Vasanthakumar, Tregs act as the guardians of the immune system, preventing the immune response from getting out-of-hand and attacking the body’s own tissues and when the number of Treg is reduced, it leads to inflammatory diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Recent studies have demonstrated that fat tissue has its own unique type of Tregs, which disappear from fat tissue during obesity. This study has showed that the fat tissue of obese people has lower numbers of Tregs than the fat tissue of people in a healthy weight range. Without Tregs, the inflammation-causing cell levels increase, and this rise in inflammation can lead to insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels, a classic hallmark of type 2 diabetes. The researchers have discovered a key hormone called IL-33 (interleukin-33), which was able to selectively boost Treg populations in fat tissue, effectively halting the development of type 2 diabetes, or even reversing the disease in preclinical models. Treatments that mimic IL-33 could have the potential to reduce obesity-related inflammation and type 2 diabetes.

The findings of this research underscore the importance of ‘healthy’ fat tissue in maintaining a healthy body, rather than being thought as simply being an energy storage reservoir. Fat tissue is increasingly being recognized as an important organ that releases hormones and regulates development.

1. Vasanthakumar A, Moro K, Xin A, Liao Y, Gloury R, Kawamoto S, et al. The transcriptional regulators IRF4, BATF and IL-33 orchestrate development and maintenance of adipose tissue-resident regulatory T cells. Nat Immunol. 2015 Jan 19;

Image courtesy: http://www.wehi.edu.au/

Workshop on Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP)

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 05:56:00 +0000

Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) outline the quality system principles and procedures to be followed by medical laboratories involved in patient care and/or clinical research so as to provide consistent, reproducible, auditable, and reliable laboratory results. This international workshop is designed to offer comprehensive guidance on implementing GCLP in the clinical laboratories and also to provide the participants with understanding of the requirements of the ISO 15189: 2012 standard.

Date: 12-14, March 2015

Place: Ticel Bio-Park, Taramani, Chennai, India

Workshop Brochure: Click HERE

Registration: Registered on “first come-first served basis”.

Workshop website: www.yrgcare.org/gclp

GCLP Workshop - Organizing Secretariat

YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE)

Chennai - 600113, India

eMail: GCLP@yrgcare.org

Tel: +91-44-39106800, 39106801, 39106802, 39106803, 39106804

Engineered Viruses to Kill Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Wed, 21 May 2014 02:30:00 +0000

A recent study from the Mayo Clinic has reported the first well-documented case of complete remission of disseminated cancer by oncolytic virotherapy - fighting off cancer using re-engineered viruses.

Stacy Erholtz, a 50-year-old woman had been battling myeloma, a cancer that affects bone marrow, for years. The tumours started growing all over the body and especially, a tumour growing on her forehead had been pushing on her brain by destroying a bone in the skull. Having been through chemotherapy and a couple of stem cell transplants, she had few options left.

The clinicians at the Mayo Clinic, as part of a proof-of-principle clinical trial, injected her with 100 billion units of measles virus, which would be enough to inoculate 10 million people, had it been used as vaccine. However, the virus had been engineered appropriately for anti-cancer treatment. Erholtz experienced unbearable headache, shaking, vomiting and very high fever during and after the infusion. However, about 36-hours following infusion of virus, the tumour in forehead started shrinking and in the next few weeks it disappeared completely. Over the period of time, the other tumours in her body disappeared too and her cancer went into remission.

Regarding the mechanism of action of this anti-cancer action by the viruses, the scientists believe that the viruses use the tumours as hosts to replicate leading to killing of cancer cells in the process of releasing the viruses. Though this treatment was successful on only one of the 2 patients, it is too early to be optimistic and this study needs to be confirmed in larger randomized clinical trials.

- Dr. Vignesh Ram

To read more on this, please click here.

Image credits: Morguefile, photography by Sullivan.

Xpert or Not? GeneXpert Faces Acid Test in India

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Tue, 20 May 2014 05:30:00 +0000

The GeneXpert MTB/RIF is a self-contained, integrated and fully automated, cartridge-based diagnostic test to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and resistance to Rifampicin (RIF), within 2 hours. This nucleic acid amplification technique (NAAT) based test, with the heminested PCR ensures unprecedented sensitivity in detecting MTB even in smear-negative and culture-positive specimens. This technology was co-developed by the laboratory of Prof. David Alland at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Cepheid Inc. and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), with additional financial support from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed GeneXpert MTB/RIF, for use in TB endemic countries in December 2010 and it was approved by US-FDA in 2013. Thus, having the advantages of quicker-turn-around-time, not requiring technical expertise to run and with excellent results from performance evaluation studies from all over the world, GeneXpert test went on to become the darling of physicians treating TB patients.

The recent article on GeneXpert published in Times of India (TOI), based on the scientific paper published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology (JCM) by Rufai et al., raised concerns over the accuracy of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF in detecting RIF resistance. This article went on to send shock waves among the healthcare providers and laboratorians, who were in awe of this WHO-endorsed and FDA approved methodology for TB and RIF resistance detection.

According to Prof. Sarman Singh, head of the clinical microbiology and molecular medicine division at AIIMS, in Indian scenario, GeneXpert could miss as many as one-third of Rifampicin-resistance cases. He claims that the GeneXpert probes do not recognize a peculiar gene sequence found in the Indian TB strains, thereby posing the threat of giving out false-negative results for Rifampicin-resistance.

The double-blinded study conducted at AIIMS, performing comparative analysis with Line Probe Assay (LPA) revaled only 64.4% Rifampicin-monoresistant cases being correctly diagnosed, while missing out the remaining 35.6%. Quoting the findings of this study, Prof. Singh urges the national TB control program managers to evaluate the performance of GeneXpert MTB/RIF before rolling out in the Drug-resistant TB Control Program.

However, certain points need to be taken into consideration before going by this study results being sensationalized by media. There have been hundreds of scientific articles evaluating the performance of GeneXpert and to name a few, the WHO expert group meeting report and the Cochrane review highlight the robust data available on the performance of GeneXpert. It is to be noted that, the Cochrane review with the data showing over 95% sensitivity of rifampicin testing, includes a couple of studies which include results from Indian sites (CMC, Vellore and Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai), which had documented excellent sensitivities. Also, a large study conducted by the RNTCP, in collaboration with WHO India and FIND India demonstrated high predictive value for rifampicin resistance by GeneXpert, compared to LPA and liquid culture based DST.

To summarize, though the results of this single study do not reflect the global evidence or policies, since the study results are from a credible research institution, it becomes utmost important to verify the claims made in the paper. It is definitely worth investigating further, to know if the Indian resistant strains possess unusual mutations or mixed infections or heteroresistance that bring down the sensitivity of GeneXpert, as claimed. Interestingly, several research groups have already started looking into this perspective and results are awaited.

Click here to read the response by the manufacturers of GeneXpert – Cepheid regarding the above mentioned study, quoting several concerns about the study that need to be resolved.

- Dr. Vignesh Ram

References:

Jha DN, Much-hyped New Tuberculosis Test Gives Inaccurate Results, April 2014, Times Of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Much-hyped-new-tuberculosis-test-gives-inaccurate-results/articleshow/34217472.cms
Rufai SB, Kumar P, Singh A, et al., Comparison of Xpert MTB/RIF with Line Probe Assay for detection of Rifampicin monoresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2014 Mar 19;
Steingart KR, Schiller I, Horne DJ, et al., Xpert® MTB/RIF assay for pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;1:CD009593.
Using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay to detect pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in adults and children. Expert Group Meeting Report.2013. WHO, Geneva. http://www.who.int/tb/laboratory/expert_group_report.pdf?ua=1
Cepheid responds to AIIMS study report. http://www.ipaqt.org/?page_id=8975

Handheld Device to Detect Malaria

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Sat, 17 May 2014 12:21:00 +0000

If someone tells you, ‘1 million lives could be saved every year, with just refrigerator magnets and laser pointer’?, you would naturally dismiss it off as a joke. Won't you?.... Well, it is true!

A team of scientists at MIT have come up with an innovative device with magnets and laser for detection of malaria, and have bagged the grand prize of $100K at Entrepreneurship Competition.

This handheld device called “RAM” (stands for -Rapid Assessment of Malaria), uses magnets to align and lasers to illuminate iron-based crystals left behind in the blood by malarial parasites. By this approach, malaria infection level could be determined using a drop of blood within a minute, with 94% accuracy. Traditional method of diagnosis involves microscopic detection of malarial parasites which usually takes about an hour and has an accuracy of about 50%.

This device (RAM) works on the principle of detecting a biomarker known as hemozoin in the bloodstream, which actually is a rod-shaped and iron-based crystal left behind by the malarial parasites after consuming the erythrocytes (red blood cells). When a single drop of blood and water is placed into the device, a magnetic field surrounds the specimen and a low-powered laser shines through it. If there is presence of hemozoin, which means the patient is infected with malarial parasite, the magnetic field will align the crystals in a pattern that partially blocks the laser’s path, thus getting detected by a sensor. The sensor transmits the results to a screen that displays a numerical score indicating the amount of hemozoin and this score correlates with the burden of infection.

Being a mechanical device, RAM will be an ideal one for personal use at home and schools and this product is currently being trialed at Peru and the researchers aim to develop 1000 prototypes with the prize money.

- Dr. Vignesh Ram

Source: http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/better-malaria-detector-wins-mit-100k-0515

Image credits: morgueFile free photo; BeamQ ClassIIIB Laser Pointer by beamQ

"Typhoid Mary" - Villainized & Victimized !

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Thu, 15 May 2014 08:16:00 +0000

Mary Mallon, an Irish girl in her teen age moved to the United States to cook for the wealthy. She was a wonderful cook and would have enjoyed her reputation, had it not been for a small typhoid outbreak during the 1906 summer. With the local officials ruling out contamination of food or water as sources, George Soper, a famous sanitary engineer was roped in to determine the cause of outbreak. Based on investigations and through elimination processes, Soper narrowed down to the cook, who had mysteriously left about 3 weeks after the first case of outbreak.

He continued the search for the lady and his investigations opened up several cases of outbreaks during the past 10 years, causing about 28 cases and that each time, after the outbreak, the cook seemed to have left. He strongly suspected that she was a carrier who never fell ill, but was the source of microorganisms. After lots of efforts and leads, Soper managed to meet Mary in March 1907, who was working for a family with a false name and the family had a typhoid outbreak.

An illustration that appeared in 1909 in The New York American

Mary did not cooperate with Soper when she was told that she was suspected to be a carrier of typhoid and asked to be tested. She chased him away with a fork and his further attempts to have her tested failed too. Soper had to call in the authorities and she was forcefully taken to a hospital and tests revealed her stools teeming with typhoid bacilli. However, fearing for life, she refused to have gall bladder surgery to eliminate the bacilli. Having deemed too infectious to live among public, she was sent to an isolated facility where she lived alone. About 163 samples from her were regularly tested between 1907 and 1909, and though several turned to be negative since she was on treatment, health authorities insisted that she should be isolated. Mary went to court and her lawyer filed a writ of habeas corpus. Interestingly it is believed that, since her case made interesting and sensational news, the newspapers had paid legal fees to get hold of the story. Mary became famous overnight and went on to garner empathy out of public sentiments. In 1910, the New York City health commissioner decided to release her under a condition that she should never work as a cook again.

Again, it was a promise that Mary could not keep. She enrolled as a cook in a hospital in New York assuming a false name and again several people including doctors and nurses acquired typhoid and 8 died. With that, her official total was 51 sickened and several dead, but there are no exact figures available since she worked under several false names for many years. Mary was again taken into custody and sent back in to exile. Still she refused the surgery and swore never to change her profession, leading to extension of her isolation in a hospital room. Eventually, age took its toll and Mary died in 1938 from the effects of a stroke. Upon her autopsy, the pathologist diagnosed evidence of live typhoid bacilli in her gall bladder.

Very interestingly, in a recent study published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe in August 2013, scientists were able to solve the mystery of how a pathogenic bacterium can, in some people, manage to persist without causing symptoms and find a way to survive for decades. Salmonella, the bacteria causing typhoid, manage to hide in the macrophages and hack their metabolism to their own benefit. The researchers have found that a protein - PPAR-delta was required for Salmonella to replicate inside the macrophages and hack them. Thus, if the bacterium is successful, then an infected person continues to spread the pathogen unknowingly and without falling ill or exhibiting any symptoms, as in the case of 'Typhoid Mary'.

Thus, to sum up, the life history of ‘Typhoid Mary’ goes on to reflect on how callously those deemed to be contagious threat to public, were handled by public health officials, those days, and how painful it would have been to Mary in her perspective, of forced isolated for about three decades. However, 'Typhoid Mary' will remain immortal for, her very name invoking a personification of an outbreak and highlighting the importance of personal hygiene and screening of those who handle food.

- Dr. Vignesh Ram

Image courtesy: Wikipedia Commons

References:

1. Typhoid Mary’s life sentence in quarantine [Internet]. PBS NewsHour. [cited 2014 May 14]. Available from: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/typhoid-marys-life-sentence-quarantine/

2. Typhoid Mary (Page 2) [Internet]. About.com 20th Century History. [cited 2014 May 14]. Available from: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1900s/a/typhoidmary_2.htm

3. “Typhoid Mary” Mystery May Have Been Solved At Last, Scientists Say [Internet]. Huffington Post. 2013 [cited 2014 May 14]. Available from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/17/typhoid-mary-mystery-solved_n_3762822.html

4. Eisele NA, Ruby T, Jacobson A, Manzanillo PS, Cox JS, Lam L, et al. Salmonella Require the Fatty Acid Regulator PPARδ for the Establishment of a Metabolic Environment Essential for Long-Term Persistence. Cell Host & Microbe. 2013 Aug 14;14(2):171–82.

5. Pommerville JC, Alcamo’s Fundamentals of Microbiology, 10th edition, First Indian edition, 2014, Jones and Bartlett India, New Delhi.

Predicting Success of Hepatitis C Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Thu, 08 May 2014 07:12:00 +0000

According to the researchers at Kanazawa University, Japan, levels of interferon-stimulated genes in the liver and blood could help predict if a patient with hepatitis C will respond to conventional therapy.

A combined therapy using interferons and ribavirin is often used to treat chronic hepatitis C, but around half of patients are unresponsive and suffer relapse. Previous research has shown that variations in a gene called interleukin 28B (IL28B) render a patient either sensitive to treatment or completely resistant to it. However, the mechanisms relating the IL28B gene to the treatment are not well understood.

Now, Shuichi Kaneko and colleagues at Kanazawa University have discovered that, in therapy-resistant patients, interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression is up-regulated in the liver but down-regulated in the blood - a significantly different pattern of ISG expression to therapy-responsive patients. The team analyzed liver and blood samples from hepatitis C patients taken before treatment, and found that fewer immune cells reached the livers of patients with the therapy-resistant genotype.

The team believe this lack of immune cells may induce higher levels of other inflammatory proteins, such as WNT5A. Higher WNT5A levels in the therapy-resistant patients both enhanced the expression of ISGs in the liver and increased hepatitis C viral replication. The researchers hope that further research will clarify these mechanisms with regard to treatment response. In the meantime, measuring ISG expression patterns in blood and liver samples could provide a useful way of predicting a patient’s response to interferon / ribavirin therapy.

Reference:

M. Honda, T. Shirasaki, T. Shimakami, A. Sakai, R.Horii, K. Arai, T. Yamashita, Y. Sakai, T. Yamashita, H. Okada, K. Murai, M. Nakamura, E. Mizukoshi & S. Kaneko. Hepatic interferon-stimulated genes are differentially regulated in the liver of chronic hepatitis C patients with different interleukin-28B genotypes. Hepatology (2014).

DOI: 10.1002/hep.26788

Source:Press Release, 08May 2014, Kanagawa University, Japan, Organization of Frontier Science and Innovation

Parasite control, Sanitation and Energy supply - 3 Benefits of Biogas

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 12:05:00 +0000

More than 450 million people worldwide, primarily children and pregnant women, suffer illness from soil-transmitted helminths, intestinal parasites that lives in humans and other animals. Administration of drugs is the most common prescription for infection control. But a more effective treatment could be to invest in sanitation-based approaches to eliminate the parasites, as well as to provide additional benefits to society.

Fecal-polluted soil spreads soil-transmitted helminths, a group of parasitic nematodes of humans that includes roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and threadworms. They are commonly found throughout the tropics and subtropics, accompanied by poverty and poor sanitation. Many rural areas lack any form of sanitation facilities, and human waste is used as fertilizer by farmers, further spreading the parasites.

The World Health Organization has been attacking this problem through mass drug administration, using existing public health care infrastructure to reach people. Immunizations are given once or twice yearly, and donations from pharmaceutical companies have helped defray costs. However, issues of reinfection, drug resistance, and continued sustainability work against this program.

An article in The Journal of Parasitology suggests that long-term efforts to control parasitic infections should focus on improving sanitation within a culturally acceptable framework. Safe disposal of human waste has been shown to reduce soil-transmitted helminth prevalence and reinfection rates. Western-style sanitation systems are not feasible in many regions, but individual sanitation systems, such as the “biodigester,” being used in areas of rural China, offer a solution.

The biodigester is an individual household anaerobic fermentation system used to process organic waste. Waste enters underground chambers from the toilet and pigpen. Methanogenic bacteria then acts on the organic material, resulting in methane and other gases, referred to as ‘biogas.” The gas is colorless, odorless, burns similarly to liquid propane, and can provide almost 60 percent of a family’s energy needs. The biodigester can also produce nitrogen-rich fertilizer that does not contain infective parasite eggs.

Cost is often an obstacle to improving sanitation in underdeveloped parts of the world. However, the biodigester offers grassroots, community-driven sanitation without the cost of Western-style sanitation infrastructure. Its long-term costs could be much lower than the current disease treatment approach, making it a cost-effective public health intervention.

Full text: “Controlling Soil Transmitted Helminths: Time to Think Inside the Box?” The Journal ofParasitology, Vol. 100, No. 2, 2014.

Source: News Release from the Journal of Parasitology

Lingam Microbiological Laboratory - The Professional Antibiotic Disk/MIC Strip Manufacturer

noreply@blogger.com (Sekar) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 08:59:00 +0000

LML Antibiotic Disks and Gradient Strips were professionally manufactured by the experts in the field with several years of research and experience.

Performance of LML Antibiotic Disks:

(Right click on image and open in new tab for enlarged view)

Performance of LML Antibiotic MIC Strips:

(Right click on image and open in new tab for enlarged view)

Handling Instructions for LML Antibiotic Disks:
1. Place the disks in an antibiotic disk box, and insert the box into a zip lock cover along with a desiccant pack.
2. Store the box at -20°C (Freezer) in an air tight condition (zip lock).
3. Before open the zip lock cover, allow it to reach room temperature.
4. Use syringe needle to transfer the disk from box to inoculated Mueller-Hinton agar surface. If necessary, gently press the disk using needle cap.
5. Don't adjust the position of disk once it has been placed onto the medium.
6. We strongly recommend to use WHONET software (available free from www.whonet.org) for the documentation and interpretation of your Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST).

Handling Instructions for LML Antibiotic MIC Strips:
1. Store the zip lock pack containing antibiotic strips at -20°C (Freezer) with desiccant pack.
2. Before open the zip lock cover, allow it to reach room temperature.
3. Handle the MIC strip only at the manufacturer logo area using forceps.
4. Carefully place the lower end (with lowest concentration of antibiotic) of the MIC strip on inoculated Mueller-Hinton agar surface.
5. Don’t adjust the position of MIC strip once it had a contact with medium.
6. Carefully roll the remaining portion of MIC strip (from lower to upper concentration; not vice versa) onto the agar surface and make sure that the entire strip has a good contact with medium.

Important Note: We recommend to store all LML antibiotic disks/MIC strips at -20°C (Freezer). However, this is mandatory for all β-Lactam antibiotic to retain its potency until expiry date.

Advantageous of LML Antibiotic Disks/MIC Strips:
1. Sample disk/MIC strip from each batch is Quality Assured with ATCC strains.
2. Uniform and rapid diffusion gives Clear & Sharp ZOI (Zone of Inhibition).
3. MIC Strip provides, precise Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of test antibiotic.
4. Disk/MIC Strip won’t fell down when inverted.
5. Cost effective & highly economical.
6. Antibiotic codes are WHONET compatible & supports automation with caliper.

Other Products of Lingam Microbiological Laboratory:

1. Media Dispenser

- If you are preparing >2 liter of culture media, this dispenser would be a right choice for you.

- Two dispensers capable to handle 5 liters or 10 liters were available

- A cost effective solution to handle the large volume of culture media where the automated media dispenser is not available/affordable.

2. Antibiotic Disk Box

- If you are handling antibiotic disks (for AST) without dispenser, this box would be a good companion for you.

- To store antibiotic disks in ready to use manner without losing its potency.

- Include 28 compartments for your different antibiotic disks.

(You have to arrange a zip lock cover and desiccant pack for optimal preservation)

Antibiotic Disk/Strip Position Template (Free)

- Click here to download the PDF and print on A4 paper (front & back) with the software settings of A4 paper and actual size.

- Laminate the printout and use it as a template for antibiotic disk/strip position in AST.

Kindly click here for the price details on LML products.

Contact E-mail: info.lingamlaboratory@gmail.com

SEPCON 14 - Conference on Sepsis & Workshop on WHONET @ Govt. Theni Medical College

noreply@blogger.com (Sekar) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:53:00 +0000

Kindly click here for complete details of SEPCON-14.

Cat-to-Human TB infection : First Documented Case!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:28:00 +0000

Public Health officials of England have reported the first ever documented evidence that tuberculosis (TB) can spread from cats to humans. In 2013, following an outbreak that involved 9 cats in west Berkshire and Hampshire, 2 people had reportedly developed active TB disease and 2 developed latent TB, following close contact with cats. Strains of Mycobacterium bovis, were reportedly the causative of outbreak in the cats as evidenced by molecular analysis at the government's Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AVHLA) showing that M bovis isolated from the infected cats and the people with active TB were indistinguishable.

Transmission of M. bovis from infected animals to humans can occur by inhaling or ingesting the bacilli shed by the animal or through contamination of unprotected cuts in the skin while handling infected animals. Between 2006 and 2012, about 30 cats in Britain were identified as infected with TB, however, findings from studies from Edinburgh University suggest that the number of cats with TB would be higher than previously been thought.

Foldscope - Origami-based Paper Microscope for 50 cents

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 11:23:00 +0000

Manu Prakash PhD, from Stanford school of medicine has developed an origami-based paper microscope that costs about 30 Rs (50 cents). The microscope known as ‘Foldscope’ actually is a bookmark-sized piece of layered cardstock with a micro-lens.

Widespread access and distribution of this ultra-low-cost paper microscopes so as to detect diseases like malaria, trypanasomiasis, schistosomiasis and Chagas, has been the dream of Prakash and he calls his model an ‘use and throw microscope’. It can be assembled in matter of minutes, has no mechanical moving parts, packs in a flat configuration, is extremely rugged and can be incinerated after use to safely dispose of infectious biospecimens. And impressively, with a few minor design modifications, it can be used for bright-field, multi-fluorescence microscopy.

It differs from the conventional microscopes in that, unlike the ground curved glass lenses, it uses inexpensive spherical lenses, originally produced in bulk for industrial use to ease rough edges off metal parts. Specimens can be magnified up to 2000 times with this microscope and by adding further accessories like watch battery powered LED lights and fluorescent filters, it can be configured to project images on the wall for teaching / demonstration purposes.

The 10,000 Micrscopes Project

Prakash has initiated ‘The Ten Thousand Microscopes Project’, funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and is giving away 10,000 build-your-own paper microscope kits to citizen scientists with the most inspiring ideas. He is sure that this is a way to open up the wonders of the microscopic world to future generations of scientists and engineers. According to him, “A universal program providing a microscope for every child could foster deep interest in science at an early age.”

The idea is to assemble a crowd-sourced biology microscopy manual that includes examples of creative uses for his microscope, collected from the end users viz., scientists, teachers, tinkerers, thinkers, hackers and the kids who participate in this project.

If you are interested to apply for a Foldscope kit, conceptualize ideas on how you would use the microscope and write to signup (at) foldscope (dot) com. Further details on submission and sample proposals are posted at Foldscope.com. Applicants with best ideas will received the kits from August 2014 onwards.

Click here to watch a video where Manu Prakash speaks about his 50 cents paper microscope

Click here to read the scientific article titled” Foldscope: Origami-based paper microscope”

Images courtesy: Foldscope Gallery

DIY Microscope, Free Micrscope, Paper microscope, Do It Yourself

Malaria: The Constant Epidemic

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 05:36:00 +0000

Malaria has been around for millennia, and there are written references to it from early societies in China, India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. Each year an estimated 500 million people are infected worldwide, making malaria a major public health concern. Some countries still experience malaria epidemics, which can also result in significant economic losses. Malaria is typically transmitted to humans by mosquitos that are infected with the protozoan parasite of the Plasmodium species. Much research has been conducted to learn more about the parasites so they can be controlled more effectively or even eradicated; however, there is still more to learn.

The article “Malaria's Many Mates: Past, Present, and Future of the Systematics of the Order Haemosporida,” in The Journal of Parasitology, reviews the history of malaria research and examines the approaches to that research. There are five malaria parasites, Plasmodium species in the order Haemosporida, that infect humans. Traditionally, identifying and classifying parasites relied on studying the parasite life history, anatomical features, and host species. Studying relatives of parasites that infect other hosts, especially birds, have also provided insights into the complex parasite life cycle (other primary hosts are lizards and bats). Later, molecular research focused on the genetic and evolutionary relationships of the hosts and parasites. Of particular interest is gaining a better understanding of patterns of host switching, especially the timing of the switches into humans. Another topic of interest concerns the origin of a particularly virulent Plasmodium species, whether it originated in birds or mammals.

Knowing more about how the parasites interact with host immune systems and gaining a better understanding of the parasites’ genetic structure can lead to the development of drugs and vaccines. For such research, many more Haemosporida samples are needed from vertebrate hosts worldwide.

Full text of the article: “Malaria's Many Mates: Past, Present, and Future of the Systematics of the Order Haemosporida,” Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 100, No. 1, 2014.

Image courtesy: Cover picture of Journal of Parasitology

Medical records posing contamination risk

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:48:00 +0000

According to a recent publication in PLoS ONE from a Taiwan based study, paper medical charts by carrying pathogenic microorganisms, are the important sources of potential infections. This prospective study had included 681 hospital wards, including medical, surgical, pediatric and obstetric-gynecologic wards along with corresponding special units such as ICUs. The external surfaces of the medical charts were sampled using sterile cotton swabs moistened with normal saline.

The incidence of the medical chart contamination was about 64% from general wards and 83% from special units. Yes, you read it right, compared to the general wards, the contamination was higher in the special units, with the exception of obstetric-gynecologic charts.

The most common bacteria contaminating the charts in both the general wards and special units were coagulase-negative Staphylococci. However, Staphylococcus aureus constituted about 18% of contamination in special units, followed by E.coli, Streptococcus viridians, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Statistical analysis showed that the occurrence of medical chart contamination was about 2 to 4 fold higher in the special units than in the general wards.

The findings of this study emphasizes the importance of effective infection control measures and hygienic practices like hand washing before and after handling of medical charts, examining patients.

For further reading: Chen K-H, Chen L-R, Wang Y-K (2014) Contamination of Medical Charts: An Important Source of Potential Infection in Hospitals. PLoS ONE 9(2): e78512. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078512

Free powerpoints & other resources on Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 05:41:00 +0000

Occupational safety and health is an area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. The goals of occupational safety and health programs include to foster a safe and healthy work environment.

This site (www.complianceandsafety.com) has a wonderful collection of powerpoints and other resources such as infographics, check-lists and meeting kits in the following safety related issues:

Disease, Hazardous Materials & Health Related Training

Bloodborne Pathogens

HAZMAT

Hazard Communication

HIPAA

Industrial Safety

Emergency Medical Service

Common Hazards

Equipment & Machines

Fall Protection

Fire Extinguisher

PPE

Ergonomics

Back Safety

Ergonomics

Drop in new HIV infections - UNAIDS 2013 Report

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:19:00 +0000

A recent report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) shows dramatic acceleration towards reaching the 2015 global targets on HIV.

New HIV infections among adults and children were estimated at 2.3 million in 2012, a 33% reduction since 2001. New HIV infections among children have been reduced to 260 000 in 2012, a reduction of 52% since 2001. AIDS-related deaths have also dropped by 30% since the peak in 2005 as access to antiretroviral treatment expands.

By the end of 2012, some 9.7 million people in low- and middle-income countries were accessing antiretroviral therapy, an increase of nearly 20% in just one year. In 2011, UN Member States agreed to a 2015 target of reaching 15 million people with HIV treatment. However, as countries scaled up their treatment coverage and as new evidence emerged showing the HIV prevention benefits of antiretroviral therapy, the World Health Organization set new HIV treatment guidelines, expanding the total number of people estimated to be in need of treatment by more than 10 million.

Significant results have also been achieved towards meeting the needs of tuberculosis (TB) patients living with HIV, as TB-related deaths among people living with HIV have declined by 36% since 2004.

For futher details, please click here to access the UNAIDS Report 2013

Microbiologists Positions at FIND

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 09:57:00 +0000

Positions Vacant: Microbiologists (MB)

Location(s): Cuttack, Lucknow, Patna, Siliguri, Aligarh (Please Note: Cuttack, Lucknow and Patna vacancies are on urgent basis)

Job description:

The MB will report administratively to the Director and Head of the concerned TB Lab and shall functionally be under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, Technical Officer and Medical Officers of FIND India.

The MB shall assist the technical team in the implementation of WHO approved newer diagnostics for TB drug resistance.

S/he will coordinate with the Director and Head of RNTCP TB Laboratory for Culture & Drug Susceptibility Testing (C& DST), concerned national reference laboratories and FIND India’s technical and administrative staff, to ensure the smooth implementation of Rapid TB Diagnostics at the designated TB Lab.

Key Responsibilities:

· Providing technical support to assist the C & DST lab in expansion of the full range of newer TB diagnostic activities for rapid diagnosis of TB including drug resistant TB.

· Supporting the Director and Head of TB Laboratory in planning and scaling-up of quality assured line probe assay (LPA) and liquid culture (LC)with rapid speciation (RS) using lateral flow immune chromatographic assay for MDR-TB diagnosis.

· Acquiring expertise in approved newer diagnostics tests such as LPA, LC and RS through National Trainers trained by FIND.

· Conducting on-site training in the newer TB diagnostics at the allotted and/or any other site indicated by FIND India’s technical team.

· Introducing and implementing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)for TB Laboratories, in consultation with FIND India, including SOPs for specific aspects of LPA, LC and RS including specifications for equipment, infection control, etc., for ensuring Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).

· Ensuring proficiency in the identified newer TB diagnostics at the allotted site before they are applied for patient care under RNTCP. Also maintenance of ongoing proficiency in these diagnostics, ensuring accuracy of results being communicated to the TB patient.

· Ensuring testing of patient specimens at the lab and the subsequent communication of results to concerned officials and service providers, in a timely manner.

· Providing technical support to state authorities, in consultation with FIND India’s Technical team for strategic planning, relating to laboratory activities in the state, including workable rapid specimen transportation systems.

· Providing technical support to the Director and Head of TB Laboratory in Annual National/ Zonal National Laboratory Network Meetings and the implementation of their recommendations.

· Managing clinical and laboratory aspects of the lab and ensuring the collection, recording and reporting of clean, quality data.

· Liaising and facilitating with concerned agencies/ officials for regular bio-safety verification of the lab, regular MIS functioning, maintenance of all lab equipments including AMCs, logistics of various lab consumables, etc, in close coordination with FIND India.

· Supervising and supporting lab technical staff in day to day activities connected with newer TB diagnostics, ensuring appropriate quality control.

· Providing monthly / quarterly and annual reports and an end-of-assignment report in the prescribed formats on activities, achievements, challenges and recommendations.

· Urgently reporting all adverse events in laboratory functioning to the Director and Head of TB Laboratory and the FIND India technical team.

· Liaising and facilitating with the FIND India technical team on all technical matters relating to laboratory functioning.

· Undertaking any other job assigned by state authorities and the FIND India technical team, as per project need.

Qualifications and Experience:

Applicants must meet the following qualification requirements:

(1) MBBS with MD (Microbiology), preferably with one years experience in TB diagnostics or
(2) Ph.D. in Microbiology, with minimum one years experience in TB diagnostics, or
(3) M.Sc. with specialization in Microbiology/ Medical Microbiology/ Applied Microbiology/ Clinical Microbiology/ Biotechnology/ Medical Biotechnology, with a minimum three years of work experience, preferably in the field of TB diagnostics;
(4) Experience of Rapid TB diagnostics shall be an advantage.

Skills and Attitude:

(1) Good oral and written communication skills;
(2) Strong team orientation;
(3) Ability to work independently, with minimum handholding and supervision;
(4) Energetic, resilient and passionate;
(5) Professional, mature and confident.

Compensation Offered:

Gross compensation budgeted for the position on a cost to organization (CTO) basis is Rs.7.20 lacs per annum. Please note that gross compensation is fully taxable.

(Note: Candidates shall be working on the payroll of SAMS, a leading HR Agency for the health and development sectors in India).

The selected candidate shall be initially offered a one year consultancy contract, renewable annually, based on satisfactory performance.

About the organization:

The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), is a respected, not-for-profit foundation, recognized by the Swiss government as an “other international organization.”

Headquartered in Geneva and represented in India through a Liaison Office at Delhi, FIND facilitates the development and implementation of diagnostic tools for poverty-ridden diseases. The foundation is presently engaged in the development of new diagnostic techniques for TB, Malaria and Sleeping Sickness (HAT), across the world and specifically for MDR-TB, in India.

For more information about FIND, please visit,http://www.finddiagnostics.org

Contact Info:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.,
1/1B (Ground Floor), Choudhary Hetram House,
Bharat Nagar, New Friends Colony, New Delhi -110 025;
(Landmark: Behind Mata Mandir)
Phone: 011+41653612; 26842162; 41011564, 41011565
Website: www.sams.co.in

To apply for the position:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are urged to fill the ‘online’ application form provided at http://www.sams.co.in/forms/onlineapplicationfind.htm.

Candidates who are unable to fill the ‘online’ form may alternately download the standard form available at http://sams.co.in/JAF-FIND-LabStaff.doc and mail it to mb-find@sams.co.in.

keywords: Microbiology job vacancy, microbiologist wanted, microbiologist job, vacancies, job

HIV SCIENCE 2014 - International Science Symposium on HIV & Infectious Diseases

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:15:00 +0000

The 2^nd International Science Symposium 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.

Highlights of the symposium:

Prof. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Nobel Laureate & Discoverer of HIV will be delivering keynote address.
Scientific session on “HIV Cure Research”.
25 CME credit points accredited by Medical University, Chennai.
Accepted abstracts will be published in the PubMed indexed Journal, BMC Infectious Diseases (Impact factor 3.03).

Several national and international experts / scientists will speak on the recent development and updates on the HIV/AIDS and other key infectious diseases. (List of International / National speakers)

To Register for the Symposium, Click HERE.

For details on abstract submission, click HERE.

For more details, please visit http://HIVSCIENCE.yrgcare.org

or write to:

The Symposium Secretariat

HIV SCIENCE 2014

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

Carl W. Dieffenbach, David Celentano, David A. Katzenstein, Deborah Persaud, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Jack Whitescarver, Madhukar Pai, Robert W. Shafer, HIV SCIENCE 2014, HIV Symposium, Chennai Conference, HIV Symposium 2014, HIV 2014, International Symposium on Science and Infectious Diseases, Vigyan auditorium, Suniti Solomon, Francoise, Barre, Sinoussi, Nobel Laureate, Balakrishnan, YRG Symposium, HIV cure, Mississippi baby, VISCONTI, YRG CARE, YRG hiv science, Rami Kantor, David Celentano, Rana Chakraborty, Suzanne Crowe, Barun K De, Carolyn D. Deal, Diana Finzi, Charlotte A. Gaydos, Amita Gupta, Rami Kantor, David A. Katzenstein, Shruti Mehta, Pius Opendi Ochola, Nitika Pant Pai, Dorothy Patton, Deborah Persaud, Bharat Ramratnam, Rama Rao Amara, emory, Manish Sagar, Barbara Shacklett, UC Davis, CSIR campus, Chennai HIV conference, HIV conference, yrg HIV, yrg care hiv conference

Microneedle Patch - Painless TB Skin Test

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Vignesh Ram) — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 10:48:00 +0000

In order to determine whether a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) remains the standard method worldwide. This test is a common precautionary measure to screen the teachers, health care professionals and international travelers for tuberculosis (TB). However, reliable administration and reading of the TST requires standardization of procedures, training, supervision, and practice. It is performed by intradermally injecting 0.1 ml of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) into the inner surface of the forearm. The injection should be made with a tuberculin syringe, with the needle bevel facing upward and inserted as a precise angle and in to depth in the arm to successfully test for TB.

A team of researchers from University of Washington has created a patch with tiny, biodegradable needles that can penetrate the skin and precisely deliver a tuberculosis test. Since the depth of delivery is determined by the length of microneedle, rather than the needle-insertion angle, there is little room for individual user error. This test method is painless and relatively easier to administer.

The researchers tested the patch on guinea pigs and found that after the microneedles were inserted using the patch, the skin reaction associated with having a TB infection was the same as when using conventional hypodermic needle. A microneedle patch which is just like putting on a bandage, has potential as a simpler, more reliable option than the traditional Mantoux test, especially for children who are needle-shy, or in developing countries where medical care is limited,

The image shows the comparison of a microneedle tuberculosis test with a traditional test administered with a hypodermic needle. The lower images show needle-depth problems that can occur with the conventional test. Image courtesy: Marco Rolandi, UW

Source: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.201300185/abstract