12^th World Congress on Biotechnology and Microbiology June 28-29, 2018 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport

Biography:

Stephen Nelson works at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he is Chief of Pediatric Neurology, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. He is also Medical Director of the Tulane Center for Autism and Related Disorders.

He earned his BS in biology from California State Polytechnic University of Pomona, graduating valedictorian and summa cum laude. This was followed by a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from UCR, and then an MD from UCSD. He then completed his Pediatrics Residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center and then a Pediatric Neurology Fellowship at Stanford University. He then was Chief of Pediatric Neurology at Keesler Air Force Base followed by Program Director of the Pediatric Neurology Fellowship, and Director of Child Neurology, at USUHS.

Abstract:

Encephalopathy (altered mental status) is a common presenting complaint in children. The differential is broad, but includes a variety of infectious causes, such as: infectious or post-infectious; immune; drug induced; post-ictal. The work-up of children with encephalopathy requires a thorough and thoughtful approach, since some cases have available treatments where outcome is impacted by timeliness of diagnosis. The use of diagnostic tests such as neuroimaging (CT, MRI), lumbar puncture and EEG will be discussed, as well as the various laboratory testing that can help to clarify the diagnosis. Given that the initial presentation may be similar in cases with vastly different etiologies, it is important to keep a broad differential diagnosis, and ensure that testing includes all possible etiologies. Additionally, the treatments should initially include coverage for life-threatening conditions, and then be tailored to the most likely diagnosis as more information becomes available. Real patient cases will be presented to illustrate the above points.

Biography:

Marianne O Poulsen is pursuing her PhD from Southern University of Denmark, Odense, Denmark. She is currently working at Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark and has published five papers. 

Abstract:

The shortage of drugs active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing clinical problem. In vitro studies indicate that the phenothiazine thioridazine (TZ) might enhance the activity of the β-lactam antibiotic dicloxacillin (DCX) to a level where MRSA is killed, but positive in vivo studies have yet to be performed. We have introduced Caenorhabditis elegans infected by MRSA as an in vivo model to test the effect of TZ as a helper drug in combination with DCX. Because TZ is an anthelmintic, initial experiments were carried out to define the thresholds of toxicity, determined by larval development, and induction of stress-response markers. No measurable stress effects were observed at the concentrations below 64 mg/L TZ. Of seven tested MRSA strains the most pathogenic strain (ATCC 33591) was chosen for treatment analysis. Full-grown C. elegans were exposed to the test strain for 3 days and subsequently treated with 8 mg/L DCX and 8 mg/L TZ for 2 days. This resulted in a 14-fold reduction in the intestinal MRSA load as compared with untreated controls. Each drug alone resulted in a two- to threefold reduction in MRSA load. In conclusion, we have proved C. elegans as a simple model for testing synergy between TZ and DCX against MRSA. Moreover, we have shown that TZ enhances the activity of DCX in a simple in vivo host model as C. elegans leading to a decrease of bacterial load of MRSA in the nematode gut and intestine.

Biography:

Dr. Mir did his PhD from Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Department of Atomic Energy of India in 2003. He then Moved to University of New Mexico for his post doctoral training in Virology, where he worked with hemorrhagic fever viruses. He then joined the University of Kansas, School of Meciene as Assistant Professor in Virology in the year 2009. In 2015, he joined the Western University of Health Sciences, California, as Associate Professor in virology. Dr. Mir’s research program at Western University is focused on replication and therapeutic intervention of emerging negative strand RNA viruses.      

Abstract:

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne Nairovirus of the Bunyaviridae family, causing severe illness with high mortality rates in humans. Here, we demonstrate that CCHFV nucleocapsid protein (CCHFV-NP) augments mRNA translation. CCHFV-NP binds to the viral mRNA 5' untranslated region (UTR) with high affinity. It facilitates the translation of reporter mRNA both in vivo and in vitro with the assistance of the viral mRNA 5' UTR. CCHFV-NP equally favors the translation of both capped and uncapped mRNAs, demonstrating the independence of this translation strategy on the 5' cap. Unlike the canonical host translation machinery, inhibition of eIF4F complex, an amalgam of three initiation factors, eIF4A, eIF4G, and eIF4E, by the chemical inhibitor 4E1RCat did not impact the CCHFV-NP-mediated translation mechanism. However, the proteolytic degradation of eIF4G alone by the human rhinovirus 2A protease abrogated this translation strategy. Our results demonstrate that eIF4F complex formation is not required but eIF4G plays a critical role in this translation mechanism. Our results suggest that CCHFV has adopted a unique translation mechanism to facilitate the translation of viral mRNAs in the host cell cytoplasm where cellular transcripts are competing or the same translation apparatus

Biography:

Gulderen Uysal Akkus  has completed his PhD at the age of 28 years from Selcuk University and postdoctoral studies from Middle East Technical  University School of Chemistry. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals.  She is still an academician at afyon kocatepe university.  

Abstract:

Lead (Pb), one of the more persistent metals, was estimated to have a soil retention time of 150 to 5000 years. Pb is a common environmental contaminant found in soils. Unlike other metals, Pb has no biological role, and is potentially toxic to microorganisms. Heavy metals can be poisoned by adsorption, complexation, or chemical reduction of metal ions by microorganisms, or they develop various mechanisms to use them as terminal electron acceptors in anaerobic respiration. In this study Bulk plaque method was used for isolation of bacteria from the sample in solid medium. NA and PCA medium. and were allowed to incubate at 37 ° C for 48 hours for mesophilic microorganisms. 11 different bacteria isolated from Ceramics Muds (CM) and Ceramics Wastes (CW) inoculated agar plates containing 0.5 mM of lead [Pb(NO3)2], copper [CuSO4.5H2O] and silver [AgNO3]. Different concentrations (10mg/l, 5mg/l, 2.5 mg/l, 2mg/l, 1.5mg/l, 1mg/l, 0.5 mg/l and 0.0125mg/l) of lead resistance was investigated.. 5 isolates were found to be silver, 10 isolates were found to be resistant and 8 isolates were found to be resistant to the infection. 4 isolate showed resistance against 3 metals

Biography:

Ferruh Ascı has completed his PhD at the age of 30 years from Ataturk University and he has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals. He is still an academician at Afyon Kocatepe University.

Abstract:

Synthetic dyes are widely used in textile. Ä°ndustry. Bacteria can achieve a higher degree of degradation and even complete mineralization of dyes under optimum conditions. A research was executed where eighteen textile effluent adapted bacterial isolates belonging to the genera, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, Legionella and Pseudomonas were investigated for the potential of textile effluent adapted bacteria in decolorizing it. The present study was aimed to isolate a bacterial strain capable of decolorizing Acid Blue 193, Acid Red 88 and Acid Yellow 42 dye commonly used in textile industries Isolation of dye decolorizing bacteria was carried out from mud and waste samples of ceramic industry. A total of 16 bacterial isolates were tested for screening of dyes tested. Bacterial culture growth as a pure culture was streaked out onto plates of azo dye. Screening for resistance to dyes was carried out by using Nutrient agar medium containing 0.15 g/L. Seven bacterium was found to be resistant against two of dyes.

Biography:

Maja Zaczek-Moczydlowska is a 3^rd year PhD research student at Queens University, Belfast and the Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute, Belfast. Her PhD research project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, focuses on the ‘Development and assessment of potential diagnostic and biocontrol measures against soft rot in vegetables’. Before undertaking doctoral studies in 2015, Maja worked in the pharmaceutical and food industry after graduating from MSc Eng in Bioorganic Chemistry & Biotechnology from the Silesian University of Science & Technology in Gliwice, Poland.

Abstract:

Soft rot Enterobacteriaceae, including Pectobacterium and Dickeya, affect a number of plants including vegetables and fruits, causing high economic loses for producers. There is currently no treatment for soft rot Enterobacteriaceae in field conditions, and control is largely based on the use of sanitary growing practices. The increasing number of epidemics in recent years caused by Pectobacterium and Dickeya in Europe indicate a need for the formulation of commercially available and effective biocontrol measures to counteract soft rot pathogens. Highly specific bacterial viruses – bacteriophages – have been investigated by a number of researchers as a biocontrol tool to treat bacterial diseases. In this study, bacteriophages isolated from vegetable processing water have been characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), molecular biology methods, and tested for antimicrobial and lytic activity.  Bacteriophages efficacious against soft rot Enterobacteriaceae in potato have been formulated into a phage-based ‘cocktail’, which has been assessed through bioassays and field trials. It has been shown that the phage ‘cocktail’ decreased soft rot symptoms and increased yields in vivo.  

Biography:

Gulderen Uysal AkkuÅŸ  has completed his PhD at the age of 28 years from Selcuk University and postdoctoral studies from Middle East Technical  University School of Chemistry. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals.  She is still an academician at afyon kocatepe university.

Abstract:

One of the by-products of the industrial and technological revolutions that have occurred in the last couple of hundred years has been the increase of chemicals in the environment. Many of these chemicals are dangerous to human and animal health.There is one chemical, lead, which is being continually released into the environment and which is potentially more dangerous to humans than the total impact of pesticides. Studies on lead are showing that it is very toxic and is affecting many people especially in motorised, urban environments.

Owing the importance of resistance of heavy metals by different organisms, fungus isolated from Ceramics Ä°ndustry Muds And Wastes was first time investigated Bulk plaque method was used for isolation of microorganisms from the sample in solid medium.. 5 different fungi isolated from Ceramics Ä°ndustry Muds (CM) And Ceramics Ä°ndustry Wastes (CW) inoculated agar plates containing 0.5 mM of lead [Pb(NO3)2], copper [CuSO4.5H2O] and silver [AgNO3]. Different concentrations (10mg/l, 5mg/l, 2.5 mg/l, 2mg/l, 1.5mg/l, 1mg/l, 0.5 mg/l and 0.0125mg/l) of lead resistance was investigated.. Point planting were made with nutrient agar. After one week incubation at 27 °C, the zone diameter of the fungal coloni was measured and compared with the control group. percent inhibition calculated

All fungal isolates (CW1k, CW2k, CW3k, CM1k,CM2k) were found to be resistant to the three metals tested. Increased lead concentration was found to increase the inhibition of fungal growth. Despite this, all the lead concentrations tested in the isolate showed improvement.

Biography:

SeyedFarid Sadati has completed his Bachelor of Science from Shahid Madani University of Azarbaijan(2010) in Molecular and Cell Biology and Master of Science studies from Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid(2014) in Microbiology-Biotechnology. He has two years of experiment in Pasteur Institute of Iran, experiencing vaccine development and drug delivery methods by applying nanoparticles and adjuvants. He is Studying his PhD studies in Ondokuz Mayis University(2017-present) in department of Medical Microbiology.            

Abstract:

New formulations are needed to improve the efficacy of influenza vaccines. Lack of efficient delivery systems for transporting antigenic molecules to the cytosol of antigen presenting cells presents a major obstacle for antigen uptake by immune cells. To this end, influenza Whole Inactivated Virus (WIV) vaccines were formulated with chitosan nanoparticles and CpG oligonucleotide as a biodegradable delivery system and a Th1-specific adjuvant, respectively. Inactivated Influenza virus vaccine with CpG and Chitosan was injected intradermally to female Balb/C mice. Injections were single dose in high and a reduced valium. Thirty days after injection, cell proliferation assay (MTT), IFN-gamma and IL-4 Elispot assays were carried out. Sera samples were collected 21days after immunization to measure IgG1 and IgG2a levels. In addition, the mice challenged with mouse adopted virus, were monitored for weight loss. The results of analyzing the stimulation of cellular and humoral immune systems and weighting the mice show a significant stimulation of both humoral and cellular immunities; also weight gain and a decrease in mortality in the mice receiving both dosages of inactivated influenza virus vaccines with CpG and Chitosan coating were observed. This finding demonstrated that CpG-chitosan low-dose vaccine was less costly than high-dose and helps in production of more vaccine despite the limited production required virus. Based on our results, it can be concluded that formulation of inactivated Influenza virus with CpG and its delivery by Chitosan as low-dose in return of high-dose with the same results as balanced between cellular and humeral immune responses can make enormous saving in manufacturing vaccine.

Biography:

Dr Ajayi obtained his Ph.D. (Microbiology) degree from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria in 2005. He had diversified working and research experience in the field of Environmental Microbiology and Antimicrobials. He published over 50 research articles in learned journals worldwide. His research activity progresses with surveillance of antibiotic resistant reservoirs during Postdoctoral fellowship program in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa sponsored by Govan Mbeki Research and Development Center of the institution. He is currently the acting Head of Department of Microbiology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria.       

Abstract:

Honey is a supersaturated sugar solution with a high osmolarity that retards microbial growth. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of natural honey was evaluated with 4 pathogenic microorganisms consisting of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus feacalis using agar diffusion method. Undiluted honey was generally effective giving a bactericidal inhibition zone of 11.7mm, 11.5mm and 10mm for Escherichia   coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus feacalis compared with the chloramphenicol antibiotics which serve as standard control having 10mm, 18mm and 10mm respectively. This is highly commendable because of other nutrient benefits of honey. Similarly, honey with diluents of ethanol at concentration of 5% and 6% were effective with zone of inhibition as high as 30mm for Escherichia coli compared with the chloramphenicol antibiotics which serve as standard control having 10mm zone of inhibition.

Dry leaves extract of plant sources such as Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) and Red acalypha (Acalypha wilkesiana) were also tested as therapeutic agents in vitro. The samples were extracted by using solvents like methanol and ethyl acetate. Caesalpinia. pulcherrima exert zone of inhibition of 14mm, 20mm, 16mm and 14mm against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus feacalis compared with the control values stated above. Acalypha wilkesiana (Red acalypha) extract also show zone of inhibition of 12.5mm, 18.5mm, 15.6mm and 17.8mm against above test organism respectively under same condition. This study shows that honey and the extracts of this plant sources possess potent antibacterial activity against tested pathogenic organisms in our quest for valuable discovery of potent drugs from natural sources.  

Biography:

Dr. Javeria Gul completed Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from Fatima Jinnah Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan, and M. Phil in Microbiology from University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. She has teaching and working experience of twelve years in the field of microbiology. Currently she is working as senior demonstrator at Fatima Jinnah Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract:

The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is one of the greatest challenges, especially for developing countries. The rate of resistance among Gram negative bacteria especially non-fermenters are increasing to all available antibiotics groups. One major concern is their resistance to beta lactam antimicrobials.

Various phenotypic methods are used by researchers for Metallo beta lactamase (MBL) detection. As health budget is generally limited in developing countries, it is difficult to employ expensive detection methods. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to be aware of relative effectiveness of various detection methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combined disc test for MBL production in comparison with MBL E test. In this study samples of non-fermenter Gram negative bacteria were collected from various clinical specimen including blood, pus, urine, fluid aspirates and respiratory tract.  All non-fermenter Gram negative isolates were identified up to species level by standard laboratory procedures using API 20 NE. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of non-fermenter Gram negative isolates were performed by modified Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method as recommended in CLSI. All isolates which were resistant to Imipenem were included in this study.

The comparison of two phenotypic methods show that the combined disk test detected MBL production in 80.3% isolates, whereas MBL E-strip detected MBL production in 90.2% isolates. Thus, both methods have good sensitivity and specificity and were comparable for detection of MBL enzyme. These results can help to detect MBL production more effectively and efficiently.

Biography:

Dr Osuntokun Oludare temitope is lecturer and researcher in the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba  Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. Osuntokun has published up to forty four (45) research article and has attended various academic seminar and conferences. Osuntokun has eighty two (93) research articles on Research-gate website. He bags a Degree in Microbiology and a Master’s degree in Medical/Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Ph.D. in Phytomedicine, Pharmaceutical/Medical Microbiology in a prestigious University, Obafemi Awolowo, University, Ife-ile, Osun State Nigeria. Osuntokun is an editor to various journals like Donnish Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology research, Elite Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology research and editor –in-chief in Advance cytology and pathology journal.

Abstract:

The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the Inhibitory Zone Diameter (IZD) (anti bacterial and antifungal activity) of crude Spondias mombin extracts against thirty infectious clinical and environmental organisms. The root, leaf and stem-bark of S.mombin were harvested and air-dried. The dried S.mombin was milled into powdered form using manual grinder. Powdered S.mombin (1kg) each of the different S.mombin parts was extracted with 3 L of 70% (v/v) ethanol, ethyl acetate and distilled water for 72 h at room temperature. The antimicrobial assay of crude Spondias mombin extracts on the test bacteria was carried out by the agar diffusion method. A 0.1 ml of 1:10,000 dilutions (equivalent to 106 cfu /ml) of fresh overnight broth culture of the test bacteria was seeded on molten Mueller-Hinton and agar plate. Using a sterile cork borer of 6 mm diameter, equidistant wells was made in the agar. One millimeter of the various re-suspended extracts (7.5, 15, 30 and 60 mg / ml) was introduced into the wells. Ofl oxacin (5µg) was used as control. The plates were then incubated at 37oC for 24 to 48 hours. Antifungal assay of crude root, leaf, and stem bark of Spondias mombin extracts was done using Agar well diffusion method. A 5- day old fungal culture on potato dextrose agar (PDA) was flooded with 2 ml of sterile distilled water containing 3% glycerol. The spores were harvested by scraping with a sterile inoculating loop. Sterile PDA plates were inoculated with 0.1 ml of the fungal spore suspension using the spread plate technique. Five wells were bored on the potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates using a 6 mm sterile cork borer. . The plates were allowed to stand on the bench for 1 hour before incubating at 25°C for 5 days. Diameter of zones of growth inhibition was then measured in millimeter with a vernier caliper. Aqueous leaf extract of S.mombin had the zone of inhibition of 23 mm against B. cepacia at 60 mg/ml. The aqueous stem bark and root of S. mombin extracts at 60 mg /ml had the highest zone of inhibition of 23 mm each against C. koseri and K. ozaenae. However, the aqueous Stem bark extract ofS.mombin did not show any antibacterial activity against M.abscessus neither did the aqueous root extract show antibacterial activity against E. coli. This study revealed that the plant extracts possessed antibacterial and antifungal activities against some highly infectious clinical and environmental pathogens which justified their use in ethnomedicine for treatment of infectious diseases. 

Biography:

Dr. Stef Stienstra is a strategic and creative development manager in biomedical science, who works internationally for several medical and biotech companies as scientific advisory board member. He is also an active reserve-officer of the Royal Dutch Navy in his rank as Commander (OF4). For the Dutch Armed Forces he is CBRNe specialist with focus on (micro) biological and chemical threats. He is also manager of the group of medical- and environmental functional specialist within the 1^st CMI (Civil Military Interaction) Battalion of the Dutch Armed Forces. He consults at top level management, in which his good understanding of abstract science combined with excellent skills in communication of scientific matters to non-specialists helps to get things done.

Abstract:

Public health systems are not always prepared for outbreaks of infectious diseases. Although in the past several public health institutes, like the French ‘Institut Pasteur’ and the Dutch ‘Tropeninstituut, were prominent surveyors of infectious diseases, the investments in worldwide public health have decreased. Now more attention is given to curative healthcare compared to preventive healthcare. The recent Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa initiated a new wave of interest to invest in Worldwide Public Health to prevent outbreaks of highly contagious diseases.

Zoonotic diseases are threatening as the population does not have natural nor artificial (from vaccination) immune response to new diseases like in the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in 2014. The new strain of the Ebola Virus in West Africa was slightly less lethal, compared to other Ebola Virus strains, but the threat of spreading was far bigger as it had a longer incubation time.

Most public health systems are not trained well enough to mitigate highly infectious and deadly disease outbreaks. NGO’s helping to fight the outbreak are often better trained in curative treatments and have less experience with biological (bioweapon) threats for which the military are trained for. The UNMEER mission was unique in this. It was a setting in which military and civilian actors cooperate in fighting a biological threat. Protection is essential for health workers. Smart systems have to be developed to prevent further spreading of the disease, but it is not only the biosafety, which has to be considered, but also the biosecurity, as misuse of extremely dangerous strains of microorganisms cannot be excluded.

Several zoonotic infectious diseases, like anthrax, smallpox and hemorrhagic fevers are listed as potential bioweapons. Therefor both biosafety and biosecurity have to be implemented in all measures to fight outbreaks of highly infectious diseases.

Biography:

Chia-Yen Dai has completed his M.D., Master and PhD from Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. He is the Director of Health Management Center and visiting staff of Hepatology, Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, and the full Professor of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University. He has published more than 240 papers in reputed journals with more than 50 papers being the first author. 

Abstract:

The all oral direct antiviral agents (DAAs) achieving as high as >90% of sustained virological response (SVR) rate have become the new standard of care over the world. The cost of DAAs has been reimbursement by the National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan for patients with chronic hepatitis C since 2017. The all oral DAAs regimens were reimbursed by the NHI including dual therapy (Daklinza+Sunvepra), 3 DAAs (Viekirax+Exviera) since Jan 24. 2017 and single tablet regimen (Zepatier) since Aug 1. 2017 for genotype 1 (GT 1) patients with fibrosis stage=3 or 4 which was diagnosed by the liver biopsy or the non-invasive measurement of fibrosis. In 2018, Harvoni wi/wo ribavirin for genotype 1, 4, 5, 6 and Sovaldi+ ribavirin for genotype 2 were reimbursed by the NHI with the same criteria of liver fibriosis. National Hepatitis C Program Office, Ministry of Health and Welfare has analyzed the data from the registry system established by the NHI Administration with all patients registered by the website. Total 9,538 patients (Male 42.2%, mean age: 65.4±10.3 years) received the therapy in 2017. According to the record of the registration system, until the end of May 2018, 9276 (97.3%) patients reached end of follow up (12 weeks after cessation of DAA therapy). With 902 (9.7%) patients lack of HCV RNA results at week 12 after cessation of therapy, the SVR12 was 97.1 % (8128//9276) by per-protocol analysis. There were 548 (5.7%) patients discontinuing the therapy prematurely. In the real-world first year Taiwanese NHI reimbursed DAA regimens for Taiwanese CHC patients with GT-1 infection and advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis (Child A classification), the SVR rate is high with a low rate of discontinuation. Further efforts will be make to reach the goal of elimination of HCV in 2030 set by World Health Organization.

Biography:

Dr. Stef Stienstra is a strategic and creative development manager in biomedical science, who works internationally for several medical and biotech companies as scientific advisory board member. He is also an active reserve-officer of the Royal Dutch Navy in his rank as Commander (OF4). For the Dutch Armed Forces he is CBRNe specialist with focus on (micro) biological and chemical threats. He is also manager of the group of medical- and environmental functional specialist within the 1^st CMI (Civil Military Interaction) Battalion of the Dutch Armed Forces. He consults at top level management, in which his good understanding of abstract science combined with excellent skills in communication of scientific matters to non-specialists helps to get things done.

Abstract:

Sharing security threat information is a challenge for governments and their agencies. Especially in biotechnology and microbiology the agencies do not know how to classify or to disclose collected information on potential bio-threats. There is vague border between man-made and natural biological threats. An example is the several month delay of the publication of research on the transmissibility of H5N1 avian influenza virus in the leading scientific journal Science by researchers of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The publication was delayed in 2012 by several months due to the fact that various organizations first wanted to investigate whether the details could be misused by malicious individuals. In the study the researchers show that only a small number of mutations were necessary to change the H5N1 virus so that it can spread through the respiratory system between mammals.  This implies that the risk of a H5N1 pandemic cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, this information can be used to develop new therapies and/or vaccines for influenza. It gives also insight into the disease mechanism, which helps in the prevention.

The same arguments are valid for therapeutic antibodies, like the antibodies, which are developed to treat anthrax. They have an extreme high affinity for the lethal factors of the bacterium and stop the disease, but the same antibodies could be misused to select the most pathogenic strains.

Micro-organisms have from nature itself the capacity to reorganise and change their pathogenicity, which could lead to a pandemic spread of a disease. But if the disease is too infectious and too deadly, like some stains of Ebola Virus are, the lethality will be locally limited. But if the incubation time is longer in a certain strain of an Ebola virus, the risks on epidemics and even a pandemic is much higher.

The knowledge of these natural mutation mechanisms could be misused to weaponize micro-organisms. It enables the engineering of the lethality like it is done with some anthrax strains. Are these laboratory techniques considered as public science or should it be classified? Academics want to publish and to share information for the progress of science and to find useful applications. The Rotterdam scientists were really annoyed when their research was blocked for publication and feared that other groups would be first in publishing a part of their obtained experimental results.

Biosafety is already common practice in micro-biology, but biosecurity is often still questionable. A ‘Code of Conduct’, like the Dutch Academy of Science has developed, would help; especially for the so-called insider risk. Educational programs for the identification and assessment of risks and threats to security have to be developed to give scientists bio-threat awareness and for government officials to rationalize the real threat, without damaging the progress of science. 

Biography:

Dr. Stef Stienstra is a strategic and creative development manager in biomedical science, who works internationally for several medical and biotech companies as scientific advisory board member. He is also an active reserve-officer of the Royal Dutch Navy in his rank as Commander (OF4). For the Dutch Armed Forces he is CBRNe specialist with focus on (micro) biological and chemical threats. He is also manager of the group of medical- and environmental functional specialist within the 1^st CMI (Civil Military Interaction) Battalion of the Dutch Armed Forces. He consults at top level management, in which his good understanding of abstract science combined with excellent skills in communication of scientific matters to non-specialists helps to get things done.

Abstract:

Sharing public health threat information is a necessity for governments to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases. Zoonotic diseases are the most dangerous for outbreaks running out of control, as the population does not have natural nor artificial (from vaccination) immune response to new emerging diseases. The recent Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa was such an example. New diagnostic methods, which can be performed in developing countries lacking critical infrastructure have to be developed to have an early response on (potential) outbreaks. It must be high tech with high reliability, which can be used in rural areas without proper infrastructure.

The mitigation of highly infectious and deadly disease pandemics have to be recognized at the source. Sophisticated diagnostic equipment and good calibration, maintenance and interpretation of the results are essential. To identify pathogens at molecular level new technologies are under development.

In developing countries military and civilian actors cooperate fruitfully in fighting potential biological threats. In this civil-military cooperation it is not only the biosafety, which has to be considered, but also the biosecurity, as misuse of extremely dangerous strains of microorganisms cannot be excluded.

Several zoonotic infectious diseases, like anthrax, small pox and also the hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola Virus Disease are listed as potential bioweapons. With this extra threat in mind, both biosafety and biosecurity have to be implemented in all mobile or fixed clinical laboratories. An information/computer network with a cloud in which essential information can be traced, helps in early detection of outbreaks of ‘new’, mostly zoonotic, infectious diseases. The same technology helps in the forensic aspects in case of a bioterror attack

Biography:

Dr. Stef Stienstra is a strategic and creative development manager in biomedical science, who works internationally for several medical and biotech companies as scientific advisory board member. He is also an active reserve-officer of the Royal Dutch Navy in his rank as Commander (OF4). For the Dutch Armed Forces he is CBRNe specialist with focus on (micro) biological and chemical threats. He is also manager of the group of medical- and environmental functional specialist within the 1^st CMI (Civil Military Interaction) Battalion of the Dutch Armed Forces. He consults at top level management, in which his good understanding of abstract science combined with excellent skills in communication of scientific matters to non-specialists helps to get things done.

Abstract:

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that is caused by obligate intra-macrophage protozoa of the Leishmania species. Leishmaniasis can cause different clinical syndromes, including cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), in which the patient generally presents with one or several ulcer(s) or nodule(s) on the skin, resulting from the infection of phagocytic cells located in the dermis. It often results into severe scar tissue in the skin. Most of the twelve million people infected with Leishmania worldwide are CL cases, a 1.5 million new cases occur annually.

Objective

WHO has a program to develop new treatments for cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study establishes a proof-of-concept that a tattoo device can target intra-dermal drug delivery against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

Methods

The selected drug is oleylphosphocholine (OlPC) formulated as liposomes, particles known to be prone to macrophage ingestion. First is shown that treatment of cultured Leishmania-infected macrophages with OlPC-liposomes results in a direct dose-dependent killing of intracellular parasites. Based on this, in vivo efficacy is demonstrated using a 10-day tattooing-mediated treatment in mice infected with L. major and L. mexicana. In both models this regimen results in rapid clinical recovery with complete regression of skin lesions by Day 28. Parasite counts and histopathology examination confirm high treatment efficacy at the parasitic level. Low amount of drug required for tattooing combined with fast clinical recovery may have a positive impact on CL patient management.