5th International congress on Infectious Diseases March 1-2, 2018 Berlin, Germany

Biography:

Abstract:

Biography:

Alan Ebringer is Professor of Immunology at King's College London and has published over 300 papers in scientific literature. His main interests are immunology of ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE "mad cow disease"). His group has suggested that BSE is caused by Acinetobacter bacteria.

Abstract:

Previous studies have shown that there is molecular mimicry between Streptococcus and cardiac collagens in rheumatic fever. In early 1990’s the British government asked whether there was a role for molecular mimicry in bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease. A cursory review of the literature showed that molecular mimicry was present between the soil and nasal microbe Acinetobacter and myelin, the covering of nerves. The government, through DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) then gave a £250,000 grant to King’s College and access to BSE materials to investigate this problem. A pilot study showed that elevated levels of antibodies to the soil and nasal microbe Acinetobacter was found in 29 BSE animals compared to sera from 76 control animals (p<0.001). A second larger study involving 128 BSE compared to 127 controls, confirmed that elevated levels of antibodies to Acinetobacter were present in BSE animals (p<0.001) but not to 6 other bacteria. It appeared that feeding cattle with abattoir materials (meat-and bone meal) caused either contamination with Acinetobacter or with prions and the government banned the use of meat-and-bone meal supplements which led to the disappearance of BSE in British cattle. However a review of the definition of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) revealed that the Pasteur Effect, namely the production of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in experimental animals had not been considered when injecting saline brain homogenates in BSE research studies. The bio-assay is based on a wrong assumption that injecting saline brain homogenates will not cause damage to the healthy, test experimental animals. The concept that prions are infectious particles may require revision.

Biography:

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Mitochondria alterations and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) instabilities are a hallmark of cancer. Mitochondria represent strategic targets for pathogens also including Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium is a major risk factor  for gastric cancer. Up to now, the cytotoxin VacA is the only one H. pylori factor known to target and damage mitochondria.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: By in vitro infection of gastric epithelial cells with wild-type and VacA-deficient H. pylori strains, treatment of cells with purified VacA proteins and infection of a mouse model, we show that H. pylori deregulates mitochondria by two novel mechanisms, both rather associated with host cell survival. First, early upon infection VacA induces transient increase of mitochondrial translocases and a dramatic accumulation of the mitochondrial DNA replication and maintenance factors POLG and TFAM. These events occur when VacA is not detected intracellularly, therefore do not require the direct interaction of the cytotoxin with the organelle. They occur independently of the VacA vacuolating activity. In vivo, these alterations coincide with the evolution of gastric lesions towards severity, concomitantly with the induction of mtDNA mutations and depletion of mtDNA content. Second, H. pylorus also induces VacA-independent alteration of mitochondrial replication and import components, suggesting the involvement of additional H. pylori activities in mitochondria-mediated effects.

Conclusions & Significance: Our findings reveal a novel and early inducer effect of H. pylori infection on mitochondrial translocases and the mtDNA replication/transcription machinery components POLG and TFAM. Moreover, we show that VacA does not account for all consequences of H. pylori infection at mitochondria, pointing to the involvement of other bacterial activities, yet to be determined. These effects of H. pylori infection are also relevant in vivo, suggesting that mitochondrial alterations impact H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation and pathogenicity.

Biography:

Abstract:

Infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic or solid tumor malignancies. Susceptibility to infection can occur from the malignancy itself, but the primary risk factor is immunosuppression from cancer treatment (e.g., cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation, combined modality). Administration of broad antimicrobial therapy for empertic treatment of febrile neutropenia is recommended by national guidelines.. This strategy however needs to be balanced against the desire to continue broad-spectrum therapy for prolonged durations during the patient’s hospitalization. Overuse of anitibiotics leads to antimicroibal resistance, higher healthcare costs, and poor health oucomes due to antimicrobial side effects. Immunocompromized paitents are at high risk for being colonized with multidrug resistant organisms, and are at high risk for morbidity and mortality due to such organisms. In addition, cancer patients are at higher risk for drug-related toxicity, due to drug-drug interactions between certain antimicrobials, cancer chemotherapy and supportive therapy. To mitigate the overuse of antibiotics, multidisciplinary approach to atimicriboal steardship needs to be employed. Modern antimicrobial stewardship programs use tactics such as, pre-prescribing review and approval and/or de-escalation: either by changing the antimicrobial agent to something narrower or by stopping an antimicrobial combination or both. To aid in the process, successful stewardship allows collaboration between several departments: Hospital administration, Microbiology, Pharmacy, Departments of Medicine, Oncology and Infection control, Information Technology among a few. Innovative approaches in molecular diagnostics allow antimicrobial stewardship to intevene earlier and with higher success rate. Current technology allows for allerts during prescribing process, allowing for real-time antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Immunocopromized patients present unique challenges for antimicrobial stewardship. This lecture identifies those challenges and presents various strategies that employ up-todate technology and diagnostics to aid in the endavor.

Biography:

Rambir Singh completed his PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Infection Biology) from University of Delhi, India in 2004. After completing PhD, he joined Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India, as an Assistant Professor in Biochemistry where currently he is working as Associate Professor in Biomedical Sciences. He is teaching microbiology, biochemical techniques and natural plant product based drug discovery at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He is working in the research area of ‘Bioactive molecules from Ayurvedic medicinal plants, health effects of probiotics and proteomics of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Abstract:

Aspergillosis has emerged as threat to public health in recent past. Early stage diagnosis of aspergillosis has been difficult. There are limited options of effective drugs for treatment and invasive infections are always fatal. Importantly, clinical symptoms of aspergillosis overlap with those of TB. This often leads to misdiagnosis of aspergillosis as TB and wrong treatment. Hence, early diagnosis of aspergillosis is essentially needed. Currently, available late stage antigen based serological tests have limited diagnostic efficacy. Hence, there is urgent need for identification of novel molecules of diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. While working with Indian (ITCC-6604) and German (DAYA) strains of A. fumigatus, we were able to identify 111 cytosolic proteins spots from 2D gels. Out of these 111 protein spots, 66 proteins have been identified on comparison with available protein databases. Immuno-proteomics studies on these cytosolic proteins showed the presence of highly immunodominant IgG and IgE reactive proteins. Characterizations of these proteins have immense application in immuno-diagnosis and therapy of aspergillosis.

Biography:

Abstract:

Introduction: Inadequate knowledge and practices of health workers and TB patients concerning MDR-TB may have serious health consequences and significant negative impact in the control of TB.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to ascertain the knowledge, and practices of health care workers and TB patients concerning MDR-TB.

Methods: A cross sectional descriptive survey was conducted by questionnaire designed precisely for the study. Data was collected from 115 health workers at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, and 120 patients from DOTS centers. Data collected included sociodemographic and professional categories, knowledge and practices concerning MDR-TB. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Statistical significance of association between variables was assessed using Chi-square test at p<0.05. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of UNTH and consent was obtained from TB patients.

Results: All 115 and 120 respondents among health workers and TB patients respectively returned the completed questionnaires. Among health workers, 60 (52.2%) were females, 55 (47.8%) were males, and mean age was 38.7±11.8 years. Majority of TB patients were females 54.6%, with mean age of 32±12.6. A higher percentage 64.3% had tertiary education among health workers while only 13.5% among TB patients had tertiary education. Majority of TB patients 87.6% had no knowledge of MDR-TB, while only 35.6% of health workers had good knowledge. Category of health workers and knowledge of MDR-TB relationship was not statistically significant (X2=8.296, df=4, p=0.081), but the relationship with their practices concerning MDR-TB was statistically significant (X2=13.426, P=0.001). Practices of both health workers and TB patients towards MDR-TBwere poor.

Conclusion: Both knowledge and practices of health care workers and TB patients concerning MDR-TB were poor. Training on MDR-TB for health care workers and health education for TB patients should be intensified for good treatment outcomes and improvement in TB control programs generally.

Biography:

Adeyemi Adeniyi Abati completed his MBBS in 2004 at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. He was trained in the Department of Infectious Diseases during his Residency. He was able to provide several superior care and consultation that resulted in overall improvement of department patient’s satisfaction quotient. He focused on patient’s treatment and re-evaluated several methods of therapy management dependent on infection types tailored to patient’s individual history and efficacy of previous treatments. He has been practicing in Department of Infectious Disease at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, one of the top three infection disease hospital in Nigeria and also pursuing his PhD.

Abstract:

Aim: In Nigeria, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is primarily spread through injection drug use. There is an urgent need to improve access to care for HCV among persons with opioid use disorders who inject drugs. The purpose of our study is to determine the prevalence of HCV, patient characteristics, and receipt of appropriate care in a sample of patients treated with buprenorphine for their opioid use disorders in a primary care setting.

Methods: This study used retrospective clinical data from the electronic medical record. The study population included patients receiving buprenorphine in the office based opioid treatment (OBOT) clinic within the adult primary medicine clinic at Lagos Medical Center between October 2008 and August 2015 who received a conclusive HCV antibody AB test within a year of clinic entry. We compared characteristics by HCV serostatus using Pearson's Chi-square and provided numbers/percentages receiving appropriate care.

Results: The sample comprised 300 patients slightly less than half of all patients (N=134, 27.7%) were HCV AB positive, and were significantly more likely to be older Hausas and Yoruba’s, have diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder, have prior heroin or cocaine use, and be HIV- infected. Among the 134 HCV AB positive patients, 126 (67.7%) had detectable HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) indicating chronic HCV infection; only eight patients (2.21%) with chronic HCV infection ever initiated treatment.

Conclusions: Nearly half of patients (47.7%) receiving office-based treatment with buprenorphine for their opioid use disorder had a positive Hepatitis C virus antibody screening test, although initiation of HCV treatment was nearly non-existent (2.21%).

Biography:

Poonam Sharma completed her PhD in Zoology from Dr. B R Ambedkar University, Agra, India in 2002. Her research interests include “Toxicology, natural antioxidant in prevention of toxicity and infection biology”. She has published over 40 research papers in reputed and peer reviewed journals. He has completed three research projects funded by various funding agencies of Government of India. Presently, she is working as an Associate Professor of Zoology at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Abstract:

Currently, one third of the world population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism of Tuberculosis (TB), and new cases are being reported every year. In 2013, World Health Organization (WHO) reported 9 million new cases of TB and 1.5 million deaths, worldwide. India is having the highest burden of TB in the world, accounting for nearly one third of all TB cases. WHO statistics showed the incidence of 2.1 million new TB cases in India, in 2013. Madhya Pradesh accounts for highest population (14.7%) of scheduled tribes (ST) among Indian states. According to the 2011 population census, 25.7% of the state population is ST. Anuppur district is among the least developed districts in the state. All tehseels of the Anuppur district are having significant number of ST population. The main ST populations in Amarkantak area of Anuppur district are Baiga, Gond, Panika, Kamars, Birhor, Bharias and Hill Korbas. Due to lack of awareness, illiteracy and poverty, sizable number of tribals are suffering from TB. The present paper focuses on the socio-economic, nutritional and health status of tribal population in Annupur district of MP. The possible reasons for TB prevalence and seasonal indices of TB have been explored. We have also explored the ethno-medicinal practices for healthcare management among the tribalpopulation, especially the use of medicinal plants for the control of TB.

Biography:

Seth Omari Mensah is a 5th year Medical Student of Kharkov National Medical University of Ghanaian Nationality. He has attended numerous conferences held in Ukraine, Denmark and Netherlands regarding various topics of healthcare to share and obtain ideas to assist the public in developing countries with a focus on his Nation of Origin, Ghana, to improve their health conditions.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Chorkor is a fishing community in Accra, Ghana. It has a population of about 3000 people. Chorkor like many other communities close to the capitals of many West African countries suffers from overcrowding and pollution due to the inability of town planning activities to catch up with rural urban migration. Cholera is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Chorkor. The incidence of cholera tends to increase during the rainy season and cholera is responsible for about 30% of the total deaths in Chorkor. A close second is tuberculosis which is responsible for 15% of the total deaths and can easily be attributed to overcrowding.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: We carried out a descriptive cross sectional study to investigate the epidemiological link of the cholera outbreak in Chorkor Greater Accra region of Ghana. Index cases were identified with the help of line lists. Univariate analyses were expressed as frequency distributions, percentages, mean±standard deviation, and rates (attack rates, case-fatality rates etc.) as appropriate. Maps were drawn using Arc GIS and Epi info software to describe the pattern of transmission.

Findings: We found 1733 cases with 20 deaths (CFR=1.2%) with an overall attack rate of approximately 25 per 3000 population with sex specific attack rates of 24% and 18% for males and females respectively. 90 stool samples yielded V. cholerae O1 Ogawa with ciprofloxacin and tetracycline being sensitive to the cholera strains.

Conclusions & Significance: The lack of personal hygiene, safe drinking water, open defecation, poor sanitation and foodwere some of the causes of the cholera outbreak in Chorkor. We recommend the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Works and Housing and Water Resources to ensure proper liquid and solid waste disposal systems and provide adequate potable water to the populace and also our research with the help of sustainable medical missions helped curb cholera in Chorkor with the distribution of fliers which educated them more on how cholera could be prevented.

Biography:

Hanan Polansky is the Director of the Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease (CBCD). He is also developer of Computer Intuition, a psycholinguistic-based datamining program that analyzes scientific text and assigns a rating to all ideas found in the text.

Abstract:

Background: Our previous papers showed that suppressive or preventive treatment with the herbal Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin reduced the number and duration of genital herpes outbreaks with no adverse effects. These studies also revealed that the herbal Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin is mostly superior to acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir drugs in genital herpes. This study tested the effect of Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin in oral herpes (also called cold sores and fever blisters).

Methods: The framework of the study was a retrospective chart review. The study included 68 participants. The participants took 1-4 capsules per day over a period of 2-36 months. The study included two FDA recommended controls: baseline and a no-treatment.

Results: Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin was effective in 89.3% of participants. The treatment reduced the mean number of outbreaks per year from 6.0 and 3.6 in the control groups to 2.0 in the treatment group (P<0.0001 and P=0.07, respectively). Gene- Eden-VIR/Novirin reduced the mean duration of outbreaks from 9.8 and 5.8 days in the control groups to 3.2 days in the treatment group (P<0.0001 and P=0.02, respectively). There were no reports of adverse experiences. Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin was compared to acyclovir and valacyclovir in six tests. In all tests, Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin showed higher efficacy. Gene- Eden-VIR/Novirin also showed superior safety.

Conclusions: This clinical study showed that suppressive or preventive treatment with the herbal Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin reduced the number and duration of outbreaks in oral herpes without any adverse effects. The study also showed that the herbal Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin had better clinical effects than acyclovir and valacyclovir, the leading drugs in the category. Based on these results, we recommend using the herbal Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin as preventive treatment for oral herpes, and specifically, as an alternative to the acyclovir and valacyclovir drugs.

Biography:

C Y Tayimetha is currently working as a expertise in microbes and infection biology, at Catholic University of Central Africa, Cameroon.

Abstract:

The resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antibiotics as recommended by WHO, poses a real public health problem. Thus, a study of the sensitivity profiles and the determination of the role of the reference laboratory in the surveillance of this resistance were carried out in Yaoundé. The aims of this study were to contribute to the therapeutic management of infected patients with appropriate antibiotics; monitor the resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antibiotics; limit its emergence in order to preserve the recommended antibiotics. Objectives of the study were to study the susceptibility profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antibiotics and to determine the role of the laboratory in monitoring this resistance. This retrospective and prospective study was carried out at Centre Pasteur of Cameroon from 1st January 2009 to 30th September 2014. It consisted of isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains from the human genital specimens, identification and determination of their resistance phenotypes to antibiotics by the diffusion method in agar medium. This highlighted the role of the reference laboratory in resistance monitoring. A total of 193 strains of gonococci were isolated and identified. The most infected age classes were 20-29 and 30-39. Men were more infected than women (sex ratio 2.01). Several phenotypes of resistance have been described. High resistance to penicillin G (93.3%), tetracycline (58.5%) and nalidixic acid (17.6%) were observed. Ceftriaxone, azithromycin, spectinomycin, and chloramphenicol were effective at resistance rates of 1.0%, 2.6%, 3.1% and 7.2%, respectively. The overall percentage of strains producing penicillinase is 81.1%. Only ceftriaxone is still effective among the two WHO recommended molecules in Cameroon. The other (ciprofloxacin) should be monitored. As resistances to nalidixic acid (quinolone marker) have been observed since 2010 and continue to grow up exponentially (25% in 2013 and 50% in 2014). Monitoring Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistances to antibiotics is one of the best strategies to prevent resistances in order to preserve the recommended molecules. Centre Pasteur of Cameroon is the reference laboratory chosen by the WHO for monitoring the resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antibiotics in Central Africa.

Biography:

Wekadigunawan C S P is currently working as a expertise in healthcare infectious diseases, Sebelas Maret University, Indonesia.

Abstract:

Background: Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) have been an applied strategy in Indonesia for years. But, still, Indonesia has challenge to decrease number of patients who decided drop out from treatment. The number of patients with MDR TB increases year to year. The study was carried out in Moewardi Hospital in Surakarta to explore a patient support group in term of contributing patient awareness to complete their treatment course.

Methods: A focus group discussion was conducted in a room at Faculty of Medicine Sebelas Maret University. The respondents are former MDR-TB patients who have been declared as totally cured after two years. Interviews, notes, and then transcript were analyzed using coding to identify emerging patterns and themes. Ethics approval was received from the Health Research Committee of Moewardi Hospital.

Result: Adherence to taking medication for six to nine months or more is very challenging especially for MDR-TB patients who have to take medication for 18 months and more. The themes are: I have been declared as cured after six months of treatment, but why I got the disease again?; the side effects of treatment made me tired; I need a more patient and pleasant health worker and; I am very excited to hear of patients who have successfully recovered from MDR-TB. Most of former MDRTB patients stated that the patient support group is very important to help them in achieving recovery.

Conclusion: Patient support groups have very important role in MDR-TB patients to achieve their recovery.

Biography:

Selcuk Ozdemir has expertise in mammalian gene expression analysis, environmental toxicology and animal genetics. He currently works as Assistant Professor at Ataturk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) leads to AIDS in humans by reducing CD4(+) T lymphocytes which are crucial for proper adaptive cellular and humoral immune responses. Old World Monkeys (OWM) on the other hand is resistant to HIV-1 infection. Although these monkeys can be successfully infected by monkey adapted HIV-1 strains, they eventually clear the infection and virus numbers drop to undetectable levels unless the animals are immunecompromised by CD8 cell depletion during and after experimental infections. These results indicate the possibility of the presence of yet unidentified factor(s) that restrict HIV-1 in OWM cells after integration of the viral genome into the host cell. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether any anti-HIV factors were expressed in AGM cells in the presence of HIV-1 Tat protein. Tat is among the first viral proteins produced in infected cells and is known to affect the expression of many human host genes as well as HIV’s own gene expression.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: SLPI was identified by 2D-PAGE and mass spectrometry using MALDI TOF. Over expression of SLPI gene was investigated by qRT-PCR on mRNA, and by western blot on protein level, using anti SLPI antibodies. SLPI’s effect on NF-kB and HIV-LTR promoter was investigated through the luciferase reporter gene expression.

Findings: We identified that SLPI expression was highly upregulated in presence of HIV-1 Tat in AGM but not in human cells. Furthermore, we showed that SLPI decreased both NF-kB and HIV-LTR promoter driven luciferase reporter gene expressions.

Conclusion & Significance: SLPI is a potential HIV-1 restricting protein. It leads to reduced viral replication in infected cells and should be further investigated. In such case, SLPI can open new avenues in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Biography:

Alfonso Magaña is on his last year medical student in School of Medicine from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California. He has been part of multiple researches in molecular biology, histology and public health and epidemiology. He has been in a few institutes in research residence in: Laboratorio de Epidemiologia Ecologia Molecular from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Center for Health and the Environment in University of California Davis and Instituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirugia, Dr. Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico.

Abstract:

Life conditions are considered by the World Health Organization, and the Pan-American Health Organization, as determinants of health, associated with the emergence of diseases. We discovered in Maneadero, Ensenada, Baja California, conditions of sub-developed countries with dirt floors, absent of public services, among others; it is a population highly susceptible to diseases, and a wide outcome of clinical manifestations. They present a higher prevalence on chronic-degenerative illness as rich countries. That is why Mexico is in an epidemiological transition, showing health problems, because poverty is highly prevalent(43.6% of population), and significant prevalence of contagious diseases, but, also non-transmissible, like cardiovascular disease as the first cause of death. We realized a descriptive-analytical and transversal study, with a random population of 29 subjects from nearly 400 patients in our data bank who attended a medical program (Clinica Movil) from July 13-16 of 2017. Inclusion criteria: patients would have filled a questionnaire (from INEGI: ENGASTO 2012) for evaluate economic conditions, and medical history. We analyzed the data on Excel software, and made a correlational analysis through odds ratio (OR). Our results showed the highest frequency of diseases on: Chronic degenerative, musculoskeletal and Infectious. Population in overcrowding has an OR=2 for infectious diseases, those without medical attention has an OR=3.5 to have a second disease; and OR=2.77 for a lack of money to eat in the last three months. We conclude there is a relationship between health determinants and disease, perhaps not the main etiology, but, improve life conditions, it is essential in the attempt of decrease prevalence and control diseases.