Questioning walls of the heart_World Aids Day 2021

Over 70 million people have been infected with HIV worldwide, leading to approximately 33 million deaths as of 2020 according to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS( The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2020). Despite anti-viral treatment suppressing viral loads and greatly reducing HIV-related deaths, mortality remains at ~800 thousand and new infections at 1.8 million per year with no effective HIV vaccine( Global HIV & AIDS statistics, 2020-2021; The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2020). Although the world has made significant progress, global targets for 2020 were not achieved. Division, disparity and disregard for human rights are among the failures that allowed HIV to become and remain a global health crisis

INDIAN RESEARCH OUTPUT IN IMMUNOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY 2012-2016: A SCIENTOMETRIC STUDY

Background: The study examines India’s research productivity in immunology and microbiology during 2012-2016, depending on various parameters, including India’s annual average research growth rate, institutional output profile of institutions and profiles of some of the most productive authors. Aim: The focus of this study is to analyze performance of India’s research output in immunology and microbiology, the quality and productivity of major institutions participating in research in microbiology and immunology and the productivity and quality of leading authors in research in immunology and microbiology. Methods: The study in the area of immunology and microbiology using 5 years publications data from 2012-2016 in Scopus database. Result: India has published 8181 papers in Immunology and Microbiology during 2012-2016. The highest productive author of India is A. Chowdhary, with 39 contributions. The highly productive Institutes are Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, AIMS, Banaras Hindu University ,Indian Veterinary Research Institute, etc. Conclusion: The findings of studies like this help in assessing the characteristics of scientific outputs that should be a major issue not only for scientists or researchers themselves but also for higher level of administration, for heads of university or research institutes, and moreover for research funding agencies

Microbiology and Immunology

This departmental history was written on the occasion of the UND Centennial in 1983.https://commons.und.edu/departmental-histories/1018/thumbnail.jp

Crossword puzzle: a tool for enhancing medical students' learning in microbiology and immunology

Background: Incorporation of active-learning methods into classroom allows students to be motivated and enhances their learning experience. Crossword puzzles are found to be an interesting educational tool for teaching medical students as it evokes interest, motivates, enhances their critical thinking, allows a better understanding of concepts, and helps in reinforcing the material acquired during lecture. Aims and Objectives of the research work was intended to implement and evaluate the use of crossword puzzle as a tool in effective learning of Microbiology and Immunology.Methods: Using free online resources, crossword puzzles were created and provided to the students during microbiology and immunology lectures. Students’ perceptions of the crossword puzzle activity were assessed through an 8-item questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale. The data was collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed.Results: More than 85% of the students indicated that crossword puzzles enhanced their learning, oriented them to the important topics, and served as good tool in effective learning of microbiology and immunology.Conclusions: Students perceived that crossword puzzles enhanced their learning of microbiology and immunology. Use of crossword puzzles provides a simple, creative, and effective means to incorporate active learning of microbiology and immunology in the classroom

Biofilm formation is a risk factor for mortality in patients with Candida albicans bloodstream infection-Scotland, 2012-2013

Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award for Medical Mycology and Fungal Immunology 097377/Z/11/Z. Data collection was supported by a grant from Pfizer. G. Ramage was also supported by a research fellowship grant from Gilead Sciences. We are grateful to microbiology colleagues throughout Scotland for submitting isolates.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Use of Google Earth™ to Strengthen Public Health Capacity and Facilitate Management of Vector-Borne Diseases in Resource-Poor Environments

Novel, inexpensive solutions are needed for improved management of vector-borne and other diseases in resource-poor environments. Emerging free software providing access to satellite imagery and simple editing tools (e.g. Google Earth™) complement existing geographic information system (GIS) software and provide new opportunities for: (i) strengthening overall public health capacity through development of information for city infrastructures; and (ii) display of public health data directly on an image of the physical environment. Collaborators include: Saul Lozano-Fuentes, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Darwin Elizondo-Quiroga, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Jose Arturo Farfan-Ale, Laboratorio de Arbovirologia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Maria Alba Loroño-Pino, Laboratorio de Arbovirologia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Julian Garcia-Rejon, Laboratorio de Arbovirologia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Salvador Gomez-Carro, Servicios de Salud de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Victor Lira-Zumbardo, Servicios de Salud de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Rosario Najera-Vazquez, Servicios de Salud de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Ildefonso Fernandez-Salas, Laboratorio de Entomología Medica, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Joaquin Calderon-Martinez, Servicios Estatales de Salud de Quintana Roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico; Marco Dominguez-Galera, Servicios Estatales de Salud de Quintana Roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico; Pedro Mis-Avila, Servicios Estatales de Salud de Quintana Roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico; Natashia Morris, Malaria Research Programme, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Michael Coleman, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, England; Chester G Moore, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Barry J Beaty, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; and Lars Eisen, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, US

Weill Cornell graduate school honors Avery August

This news item in the Cornell Chronicle is about: Avery August, professor of immunology and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award May 27

Genome announcement : complete genome sequence of a novel Mupapillomavirus, HPV204

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small, non-enveloped viruses with a circular double-stranded DNA genome, etiologically associated with various benign and malignant neoplasms of the skin and mucosa. As of May 30, 2015, 201 different HPV types had been completely sequenced and officially recognized and divided into five PV-genera: Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, Mu-, and Nupapillomavirus. The Mupapillomavirus genus currently consists of only two HPV types: HPV1 and HPV63, identified in 1980 and 1993, respectively, both associated with sporadic cases of cutaneous warts. In this preliminary study, we announce the complete genome sequence of a novel HPV type, now officially recognized as HPV204. Based on preliminary data, the genome of HPV204 comprises a total of 7,227 bp and contains five early open reading frames (E1, E2, E4, E6, and E7) and two late ORFs (L1 and L2). No E5 ORF could be identified. Preliminary HPV204 clusters to the Mu-PV genus, species Mu-3.Fil: Kocjan, Boštjan J. University of Ljubljana. Faculty of Medicine. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology; SloveniaFil: Šterbenc, Anja. University of Ljubljana. Faculty of Medicine. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology; SloveniaFil: Hošnjak, Lea. University of Ljubljana. Faculty of Medicine. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology; SloveniaFil: Chouhy, Diego. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Área de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Bolatti, Elisa María. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Área de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Giri, Adriana Angélica. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Área de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Poljak, Mario. University of Ljubljana. Faculty of Medicine. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology; Sloveni

A Prospective Surveillance Study of Candidaemia : Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Antifungal Treatment and Outcome in Hospitalized Patients

Funding This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award for Medical Mycology and Fungal Immunology 097377/Z/11/Z. Data collection was supported by a grant from Pfizer. GR was also supported by a research fellowship grant from Gilead Sciences. The collection of the isolates was funded by a Gilead Fellowship to GR. Acknowledgments We are grateful to microbiology colleagues throughout Scotland for submitting isolates. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was performed by the Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health England, Bristol.Peer reviewedPublisher PD