Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Cdr Dr. Stef Stienstra
1-Civil-Military-Interaction Command, Royal Dutch Navy reserve, The Netherlands
Keynote: The threat mitigation of emerging infectious diseases globally
Time : 0
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 1st 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:
As curative medicine gets, compared to public health systems, generally more attention and financial support, particularly the underdeveloped countries are not well enough prepared for outbreaks of infectious diseases. In the past several Western public health institutes, like the French ‘Institut Pasteur’, the Dutch ‘Tropeninstituut‘, and many others, were prominent surveyors of contagious diseases and very active in the international mitigation of infectious diseases. In the last decennia the investments in worldwide public health unfortunately have been reduced compared to curative healthcare. With the recent Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa we see a new wave of growing interest to invest in Worldwide Public Health to prevent spreading of highly contagious diseases.
Most public health systems in developing countries do not have proper diagnostic laboratories, quarantine procedures and treatment facilities. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) helping to fight outbreaks are often better trained in curative treatments and have less skills with biological (bioweapon) threats in which military have more experience. I acclaim Bill Gates’ announcement in the New England Journal of Medicine (Bill Gates, NEJM, March 19, 2015) that all countries should identify trained military resources that would be available for outbreaks and work together to fight epidemics. New diagnostic technologies will help us worldwide in the defence against emerging contagious diseases. Especially in PCR-based systems, which are nowadays quite ruggedized are very promising in the identification of potential outbreaks of infectious diseases in wildlife, cattle and/or the human population in developing countries.
Keynote Forum
John F. Alderete
Washington State University, USA
Keynote: Approach Toward Developing Perfect Serodiagnostic Target Using Trichomonas vaginalis as a Model
Time : 09:40-10:25
Biography:
Dr.Alderete received his PhD at the age of 28 years from Kansas University in 1978 did postdoctoral research at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He was at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for 30 years before taking a positon at Washington State University. He has published 140 scientific articles and 63 book chapters, invited articles, and press releases. His work has been presented at 158 scientific conferences. He has served in National Institutes of Health Study Sections, Boards of Scientific Counselors, National Advisory Councils, and several National Academy of Medicine panels.
Abstract:
Trichomonas vaginalis causes the number one, non-viral sexually transmitted infection world-wide. A rapid, sensitive and accurate Point-of-Care serodiagnostic is needed for screening both women and men, and such a diagnostic will permit determination of the true incidence and prevalence of this STI responsible for significant adverse health outcomes. The availability of sera from women and men patients and uninfected controls allowed us to identify epitopes to immunogenic proteins of T. vaginalis. I reasoned that knowledge of epitope amino acid sequences could permit the construction of novel, chimeric recombinant proteins that would be a perfect target for a serum IgG diagnostic for both women and men. The metabolic enzymes fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (A), α-enolase (E), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydro-genase (G) are immunogenic, and serum IgG antibody to these proteins is detected after this STI. Some epitopes of these enzymes have little or no sequence identity to other eukaryotes, yeasts, and microbial pathogens. We constructed a chimeric recombinant String-Of-Epitopes (SOE) protein consisting of 15-mer peptides within which are epitopes of A, E, and G unique to this STI agent. This chimeric protein referred to as AEG::SOE2 was detected by ELISA with highly reactive sera of women and men, but not control, negative serum lacking antibody to trichomonad proteins. This approach lends itself to the creation of highly specific immunogenic targets for detection of serum IgG antibody in patients. Given that the epitopes are highly immunogenic and elicit antibody, such targets may also be future subunit vaccine candidates.
Keynote Forum
Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente
UAM-CSIC, Spain
Keynote: Enzyme immobilization using glutaraldehyde: taking advantages of the versatility of the method
Time : 10:50-11:35
Biography:
Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente has completed his PhD at UAM and postdoctoral studies from UCL-London. He is the leading the “Optimization of biocatalysts and bioprocess” group at ICP-CSIC, a premier Bio-Soft service organization. He has published more than 390 papers in ISI Journal, with an H index of 68 (Scopus) and more than 2200 citations/year, he is coauthor of 20 patents and co-supervisor of 18 doctoral thesis. He is associated editor of Process Biochemistry and has been serving as an editorial board member of more than 20 journals (e.g., Molecules, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, Journal of Biotechnology, Molecular Catalysis, etc.).
Abstract:
Glutaraldehyde is among the most employed reagents in the preparation of immobilized enzyme biocatalysts. Usually, a support containing primary amino groups is used. This way, this support is actually a heterofunctional one with ion exchange capacity and hydrophobic groups, and also bearing chemical reactivity that can generate covalent bonds. For this reason, glutaraldehyde may immobilize enzyme by very different reasons, biocatalysts with very different activity/stability properties. For example: Adsorption of the enzymes on the aminated support via ion exchange followed by treatment with glutaraldehyde. Use of preactivated supports at low ionic strength, where the first step of the immobilization remains the ion exchange. Use of preactivated supports at high ionic stregnth to avoid ion exchange as first step of the immobilization, forcing the covalent attachment as the first immobilization step, that may depend on the immobilization pH. Lipases will be treated as a particlar case, as they can become interfacially adosrbed on the activated supports.
- Recent Trends in Medical Microbiology | Industrial Biotechnology | Agricultural Microbiology | Environmental Microbiology | Current Trends in Antibiotic Research | Microbial Biotechnology
Chair
Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente
UAM-CSIC, Spain
Co-Chair
Lia Monica Junie
University of Medicine and Pharmacy-Iuliu Hatieganu, Romania
Session Introduction
Stephen sinelson
Tulane University School of Medicine, USA
Title: Pediatric Encephalopathy
Time : 11:35-12:10
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.
Marianne O. Poulsen
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Title: Caenorhabditis elegans as a simple in vivo model for combinatorial therapy with Thioridazine and Dicloxacillin against infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Time : 12:10-12:45
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.
Mohammad A Mir
Western University of Health Sciences, USA
Title: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Nucleocapsid Protein Augments m-RNA Translation
Time : 12:45-13:20
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
Gulderen Uysal Akkus
Afyon Kocatepe University
Title: Determination of the heavy metal resistance of bacteria isolated from ceramic industry sludge and wastes
Time : 14:10-14:45
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
Ferruh ASCI
Afyon Kocatepe University, Turkey
Title: Decolorization of Textile Azo-metal Complex Dyes by a Bacterium Isolated from of ceramic industry
Time : 14:45-15:20
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.
Maja Zaczek-Moczydłowska
Queens University, UK
Title: Characterisation of bacteriophages infecting Pectobacterium spp. for phage-based biocontrol formulation against soft rot in field conditions
Time : 15:40-16:15
Biography:
Maja Zaczek-Moczydlowska is a 3rd 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.
Gulderen Uysal AKKUÅž
Afyon Kocatepe University
Title: Lead Resistance Ä°n Fungi Ä°solated From Ceramics Ä°ndustry Muds And Wastes
Time : 16:15-16:50
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.