Scientific Program

Conference Series Ltd invites all the participants across the globe to attend 11th International Conference on Virology and Microbiology Vancouver, Canada.

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Scientific Program Day 1
Scientific Program Day 2

Day 2 :

Keynote Forum

Stef Stienstra

Civil-Military-Interaction-Command Royal Dutch Armed Forces, Netherlands

Keynote: Zoonotic diseases threat needs sharing of information and new diagnostic systems in less developed countries

Time : 09:30-10:00

Conference Series Virology Congress 2018 International Conference Keynote Speaker Stef Stienstra photo
Biography:

Works internationally for several medical and biotech companies as a scientific advisory board member and 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 a focus on (micro)biological and chemical threats and medical- and environmental functional specialist within the 1st CMI (Civil-Military Interaction) Battalion of the Dutch Armed Forces. For Expertise France he is now managing an EU CBRN CoE public health project in West Africa. He is visiting a professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata giving lectures for the CBRN Master study. In his civilian position, he is at this moment developing with MT-Derm in Berlin (Germany) a novel intradermal vaccination technology as well as a new therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis for which he has won a Canadian ‘Grand Challenge’ grant. With Hemanua in Dublin (Ireland) he has developed an innovative blood separation unit, which is also suitable to produce convalescent plasma for Ebola Virus Disease therapy. He has finished both his studies in Medicine and in Biochemistry in The Netherlands with a doctorate and has extensive practical experience in cell biology, immuno-hematology, infectious diseases, biodefense, and transfusion medicine. 

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 is 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.

Keynote Forum

Sugga Gurfateh Singh

Rayat Bahra University, India

Keynote: Current scenario of clinical trials in India

Time : 10:00-10:30

Conference Series Virology Congress 2018 International Conference Keynote Speaker Sugga Gurfateh Singh photo
Biography:

I am an Assoc. Prof. in Department of Pharmacology, University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rayat Bahra University & associated more than 12 years with Teaching/Research/Pharmacy field and guided more than 60 UG, PG & Ph.D Scholars. Moreover I have published 54 International/National research/review papers and attended more than 35 International/National conferences as Speaker/Resource Person/Chairpersons. I have published two books and organized more than 5 national conferences as LOC member. I received various prestigious academic appreciations & awards like Best Student Award, Young Scientist Award and Best Poster Presentation Awards. Moreover I am members of various Scientific and Professional Societies like Indian Pharmacological Society, Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association, Society of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, and Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India. 

Abstract:

Clinical trial is a systematic study of new drugs in human subjects to generate data for discovering, verifying the clinically, pharmacological and adverse effects with the objective of determining safety and efficacy of the new drug. ICH GCP provides the guidelines as an international ethical and scientific quality standard to design, conduct, report and record trials conducted on the human participants. India has the potential to contribute meaningfully to global clinical drug development as the value of clinical research in India is being appreciated. Recently, pharmaceutical companies that are involved in clinical trials are being trailed by a growing concern over the clinical research ethics followed in India. In India, pharmaceutical companies carry out about 60% of clinical trials, while the other 40% are handled by CROs in India. Clinical trials are more than 50 percent cheaper in India compared to developed countries. Global pharmaceutical companies are contracting their projects with Indian companies for several reasons: increasing profit, cost-reduction process of drug development and fast process of regulatory approval & fostering a less hostile environment among the world’s impoverished ill. It is advantageous to perform clinical trials in India as it offers large patient pool, low cost of doing business, availability of expert researchers and huge market opportunities. Top multinational pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Glaxo Smith Kline, Aventis, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Astra Zenica, Eli Lilly are conducting clinical trials in India apart from the Indian companies like Dr. Reddys, Nicholas Piramal, Cipla and Lupin etc. The country is organizing to attract more and more researchers from around the world to conduct their clinical trial studies in India. The regulatory system is being improved. Laws are being amended to smooth the path of entry. India is now balanced to provide the global pharmaceutical industry high quality and cost-effective contract services to support drug discovery, clinical trial conduct, data management and manufacturing.
 

  • Vaccine Research & Development| Human Vaccines - Infectious & Non Infectious Diseases | Cancer and Immunotherapy Vaccine| Viral Infections | Immunology of Infections | Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Location: Red Cedar Ballroom C
Speaker

Chair

Bin Lu

Medimmune, USA

Session Introduction

Oreola Donini

Soligenix, Inc., USA

Title: Using monoclonal antibodies as immune correlates of protection: Thermostable ricin toxin vaccine development

Time : 12:30-12:55

Speaker
Biography:

Oreola Donini has more than 15 years of experience in drug discovery and preclinical development with start-up biotechnology companies and has been instrumental in leading early stage development of novel therapies into the clinic. She is a co-inventor of the Innate Defense Regulator technology. Her research has spanned drug discovery, preclinical development, manufacturing and clinical development in infectious disease, cancer and cancer supportive care. She is a Senior Vice-President and the Chief Scientific Officer with Soligenix. Dr. Donini received her PhD from Queen’s University in Kinston, Ontario, Canada and completed post-doctoral work at the University of California, San Francisco

Abstract:

Ricin is a highly toxic plant-derived toxin that causes a rapidly progressive respiratory syndrome when inhaled. Ricin toxin is easily derived from castor bean production and constitutes a serious biological threat agent. Soligenix is developing a ricin-toxin vaccine derived from the A-chain moiety of ricin (RiVax®), adjuvanted with aluminum and thermostabilized via lyophilization in conjunction with glassifying excipients. RiVax has demonstrated 100% protection in a rhesus macaque model of aerosolized ricin exposure and safety in two phase 1 clinical studies. Development of a ricin-toxin vaccine will require use of the “Animal Rule”. Use of the Animal Rule dictates the identification of immune correlates of protection that can be correlated between human studies and animal models. Recent studies have evaluated immunogenicity measures, including total antiricin IgG, neutralizing antibody levels, and epitope competition profiles as potential immune correlates of protection. Epitope competition assays have been specifically developed using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies with known recognition sites (epitopes) on ricin/RiVax. Studies in mice, non-human primates, and humans have suggested that the epitope competition profiles in particular are similar across species and, moreover, that threshold levels of epitope competition may be predictive of survival to subsequent ricin challenge. The stability of these same epitopes on the RiVax protein are also predictive of RiVax drug product potency. In aggregate, these results suggest that epitope recognition may be a powerful tool for vaccine development, particularly under the Animal Rule. This research was supported with funding from NIH/NIAID grant U01AI082210 and NIAID contract #HHSN272201400039C awarded to Soligenix, Inc.
 

Bryan Knight

Southern IML Pathology, Australia

Title: Changes to cervical screening in Australia: A strategy for a vaccinated population

Time : 13:55-14:20

Speaker
Biography:

Bryan Knight received medical training at the Godfrey Huggins School of Medicine, Zimbabwe. He trained in pathology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and obtained his PhD at the same institution. He is an Associate of the College of American Pathologists, Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, Fellow of the International Academy of Cytology and has a special interest in gynaecologic pathology and cytology. He has worked at UCT in South Africa, was Medical Director at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver Canada, and Director of Pathology at the Victorian Cytology Services in Melbourne, Australia.
 

Abstract:

The Australian National Cervical Cancer Screening Program commenced in 1982 and reduced the incidence of cervical cancer from 20 to 9 per 100,000 women by 2010. Since then the rate of reduction of cancers leveled off and remained relatively unchanged. In 2007, a National HPV (human papillomaviruses) Vaccine program for girls and young women using quadri-valent vaccine commenced and in 2009 became school-based and expanded to include boys. The nonavalent vaccine will be launched in 2018. Up-take of vaccination is above 80% and the incidence of HPV-related high-grade lesions has fallen in the vaccinated population. A smaller reduction in high-grade lesions in older women suggests a herd-immunity effect. With the reduced incidence of cervical lesions in the population, the low sensitivity of Papanicolaou smears will likely decline. In the HPV vaccine era, the need for a more sensitive and specific test with a high negative predictive value predicated on a change to HPV DNA testing. Numerous international studies show that HPV DNA testing with partial genotyping confers the most costeffective and effective means of population-based cervical screening. The Renewed HPV DNA Screening Program commenced in December 2017. A new National Cancer Screening Register will change the way women are invited to screening and are recalled for follow-up, aiming to reduce under-screening. Further, a new self-sample HPV DNA test to screen women who, for cultural or other reasons have not been screened, will enhance the efficacy of the program. A further reduction of the incidence of cervical cancer in Australia is anticipated.
 

Yang Jiaying

Southeast University, China

Title: Comparison of three sample size estimation methods for non-inferiority vaccine trials with multiple continuous co-primary endpoints

Time : 14:20- 14:45

Speaker
Biography:

Yang Jiaying has her expertise in research design and statistical analysis of vaccines and drug clinical trials. She has conducted in-depth research in the past few years in the randomization of subjects and the calculation of the sample size of tirals when there were multiple co-primary endpoints, and has been funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and the Postgraduate Research Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province.
 

Abstract:

Combination vaccines have been extensively used for decades and bring together the issue of intersection-union. To make up for the reduction in statistical power at the study level, researchers have to increase the study sample size. In view of the nature of immunogenicity variables, we use the geometric mean concentration of immune response after vaccination as immunologic endpoint and compare three sample size calculation methods: the “Inflation factors” method, the “Incrementing method” and the Bonferroni correction method when there are multiple continuous co-primary endpoints. The parameters are set according to the actual situation of combination vaccines and the simulation results were used as reference. The present study demonstrates that the “Incrementing method”, the Bonferroni corrected method and the “Inflation factors method” are all available when the effect size of each endpoint is comparable and there is no or weak correlation between each endpoint. When there is a valid difference of effect sizes among endpoints, the “Incrementing method” performs better.
 

Bin Lu

Medimmune, USA

Title: Molecular analysis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Rsv) F and G proteins during the 2015-2017 winter seasons in the USA and viral susceptibility to anti-Rsv monoclonal antibody (mAbs)

Time : 14:45-15:10

Speaker
Biography:

Bin Lu, PhD is currently Principle Scientist at Medimmune/AstraZeneca. He has 18 years of preclinical and clinical experience in the development of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies for infectious diseases. His experience includes Sr Direction and VP of R&D in a biotech startup and Co-PI for the CRADA programs with NIH on the evaluation of novel vaccines and antivirals. Dr Lu has authored over twenty peer-reviewed publications and is an inventor on several US patents related to development and production of vaccines for influenza and other serious viral respiratory diseases.
 

Abstract:

RSV is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants. Palivizumab is the only approved agent for RSV prophylaxis limited to high-risk infants. MEDI8897, a potent anti-RSV F mAb with extended serum half-life, is under clinical investigation as a candidate for RSV passive vaccination in all infants entering their first RSV season. To monitor current RSV genotypes in circulation and natural polymorphisms in the F protein-binding regions of MEDI8897 and palivizumab, we determined G and F sequences of 1,228 RSV isolates collected in the OUTSMART surveillance program during 2015-16 (n=392) and 2016-17 (n=836) RSV seasons from 25 regional laboratories in the US and Puerto Rico. RSV A (62% in 201516 and 45% in 2016-17), RSV B (37% in 2015-16 and 54% in 2016-17), and RSVA/RSVB coinfection (1% in both seasons) were detected. All RSV A and RSV B isolate clustered into ON1 and BA genotypes, respectively. A few distinct substitution polymorphisms in the MEDI8897 binding region (AA62-69 and 196-212) of the F protein were identified in RSV A (residues 65, 68 or 206) and RSV B (residues 66, 209, 210 and double 201/209, 206/209) strains. The frequency of these variants was in the 0.2-2.1% range, except for the 206/209 variant detected at a frequency of ~19% in 2016-17. None of these F polymorphisms had an impact on viral susceptibility to MEDI8897 neutralization. One known palivizumab resistant variant at residue 272 of RSV A was observed in the palivizumab binding region (AA267-275). The ongoing OUTSMART study provides viral susceptibility monitoring for anti-RSV mAbs.
 

Li Luo

Southeast University, China

Title: The application of epidemic dynamics on the prediction and prevention of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) induced by EV71 virus

Time : 15:10-15:35

Speaker
Biography:

Li Luo has her expertise in research design and statistical analysis of vaccines and drug clinical trials. She has conducted in-depth research in the past few years in the epidemic dynamics model and its application on the clinical trials, and the calculation of the sample size of cluster randomization trails.
 

Abstract:

Objective: The study aimed to develop an epidemic dynamics model for the transmission and prevention of hand-foot andmouth disease {HFMD}induced by EV71 virus.
 
Methods: A SEIR model for susceptible, exposed, infected and recovered HFMD patients was created based on research results and actual incidences of HFMD in China using mathematical and epidemic dynamical methods. Time-fitted curves determined by the relevant parameters were adopted to simulate the epidemic process and the effectiveness of the model with and without an intervention was evaluated.
 
Results: Comparison of the results of data fitting to the model for HFMD cases occurred in China from 2009 to 2015 with the actual incidence showed that the model fitted well to the maximum number of infected HFMD patients and that the simulated trend of epidemic process was identical to that of the actual situation. Implementation of intervention measures was demonstrated to effectively delay the onset of HFMD epidemic peaks and reduce the number of incidence during peak seasons. Finally, we make use of the parameter values of the year 2013 and 2014 to simulate and forecast the number of patients of 2015, and the predictive results inosculate well with the real-world situations.
 
Conclusion: The model created in this study is suitable for simulating the spread of HFMD in China and may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of relevant intervention and preventive measures.
 

Chien-Fu Hung

The Johns Hopkins University, USA

Title: Intramuscular vaccination targeting mucosal tumor draining lymph node enhances integrins-mediated Cd8+ T Cell infiltration to control mucosal tumor growth

Time : 16:00-16:25

Speaker
Biography:

Chien-Fu Hung is an associate professor of pathology and oncology and a professor of gynecology and obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. His research focuses on the prevention and treatment of cervical and ovarian cancers. His team is currently using an ascitogenic ovarian/peritoneal tumor model to investigate DNA vaccine strategies encoding ovarian tumor antigens identified by microarray and SAGE. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Illinois. He completed a fellowship in pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in pathology at the Johns Hopkins University

Abstract:

Objective: Mucosal immunization is suggested to be crucial at for controlling tumors in the mucosal region; however, therapeutic DNA vaccination with electroporation in various mucosal sites has yet to become clinically adaptable. Since tumordraining lymph nodes (tdLNs) have been suggested as immune-educated sites that can be utilized to mount a potent antitumor immune response, we examined whether intramuscular DNA vaccination with electroporation at sites that target the mucosal tdLNs could elicit mucosal immune response to restrict tumor growth.

Methods: The efficacy and mechanism of intramuscular administration of a therapeutic DNA vaccine with electroporation at different sites was examined by lymphocyte analysis, tumor growth, mouse survival, as well as integrin expression, in mice bearing orthotopic HPV16 E6/E7+ syngeneic TC-1 tumors in various mucosal areas.

Results: While provoking comparable systemic CD8+ T cell responses, intramuscular hind leg vaccination generated stronger responses in cervicovaginal-draining LNs to control cervicovaginal tumors, whereas intramuscular front leg vaccination generated stronger responses in oral-draining LNs to control buccal tumors. Surgical removal of tdLNs abolished the antitumor effects of therapeutic vaccination. Mucosal-tdLN-targeted intramuscular vaccination induced the expression of mucosalhoming integrins LPAM-1 and CD49a by tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in the tdLNs. Inhibition of these integrins abolished the therapeutic effects of vaccination and the infiltration of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells into mucosal tumors.

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that tumor draining lymph nodetdLNs -targeted intramuscular immunization can effectively control mucosal tumors, which represents a readily adaptable strategy for treating mucosal cancers in humans. 

Claudia León-Sicairos

Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Mexico

Title: Iron responsive-like elements in the parasite Entamoeba histolytica

Time : 16:25-16:50

Speaker
Biography:

Claudia Leon-Sicairos has completed her PhD at the age of 29 years from Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV-IPN Mexico). She is the director of 15 theses. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journal. She is National Basic Science Prize 2006 by the Glaxo SK Foundation.

Abstract:

Entamoeba histolytica is a human parasite capable of invading intestinal mucosa and spreading to other organs. It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. E. histolytica uses diverse human proteins as sources of iron. Iron is an important factor for E. histolytica growth and virulence. In higher eukaryotes, the expression of ironregulated genes is mediated by RNA-protein interactions between Iron Responsive Elements (IREs) and cytoplasmic Iron Regulatory Proteins (IRPs). In this work, we show evidence of IREs in some amoebic virulence mRNAs that are capable of binding cytoplasmic proteins, supporting the presence of an IRE/IRP-like mechanism.
 

Gurfateh Singh

Rayat Bahra University, India

Title: Possible role of fibrates in attenuated cardio protective effect of ischemic preconditioning in hyperlipidemic condition

Time : 16:50-17:15

Speaker
Biography:

Teaching/Research Experiences: More than 13 Years. I have published more than 53 research/review papers in reputed International & National journals. Moreover I have attended more than 35 International/National conferences as Invited Speaker/LOC Member/Resource Person/Organising Secretary/Presenter etc. Supervised more than 55 PG & UG Research Scholars & going on.
 

 

Abstract:

Objective: The present study has been designed to investigate the beneficial role of Fenofibrate & Clofibrate in attenuated the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in hyperlipidemic rat heart. 
 
Materials & Methods: Experimental hyperlipidemia was produced by feeding high fat diet to rats for a period of 28 days. Isolated langendorff’s perfused normal and hyperlipidemic rat hearts were subjected to global ischemia for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 120 min. The myocardial infarct size was assessed macroscopically using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Coronary effluent was analyzed for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB release to assess the extent of cardiac injury. Moreover, the oxidative stress in heart was assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, superoxide anion generation and reduced form of glutathione. 
 
Results: The ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) has been noted to induce oxidative stress by increasing TBARS, superoxide anion generation and decreasing reduced form of glutathione in normal and hyperlipidemic rat hearts. Moreover, I/R produced myocardial injury, which was assessed in terms of increase in myocardial infarct size, LDH and CK-MB release in coronary effluent and decrease in coronary flow rate in normal and hyperlipidemic rat heart. In addition, the hyperlipidemic rat heart showed enhanced I/R-induced myocardial injury with high degree of oxidative stress as compared with normal rat heart subjected to I/R. Four episodes of IPC (5 min each) afforded cardioprotection against I/R-induced myocardial injury in normal rat heart as assessed in terms of improvement in coronary flow rate and reduction in myocardial infarct size, LDH, CK-MB and oxidative stress. On the other hand, IPC mediated myocardial protection against I/R-injury was abolished in hyperlipidemic rat heart. However, Treatment with Fenofibrate (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.), Clofibrate (300mg/kg/day, i.p.) as a agonists of PPAR-α have not affected the cardioprotective effect of IPC in normal rat heart, but its treatment markedly restored the cardioprotective potentials of IPC in hyperlipidemic rat heart. 
 
Conclusion: It is noted that the high degree of oxidative stress produced in hyperlipidemic rat heart during reperfusion and consequent down regulation of PPAR-α may be responsible to abolish the cardioprotective potentials of IPC.
 

Katarzyna Sitarz

Jagiellonian University Medical College, Poland

Title: Disruption of Hpv-16 E1 and E2 regulatory genes as a prognostic factor in cervical cancer

Time : 17:15-17:40

Speaker
Biography:

Katarzyna Sitarz received BSc of Biotechnology in 2015 and MSc of Biochemistry in 2017 (both at the Jagiellonian University). Now she is MD student (from 2016) and PhD student (from 2017) at Jagiellonian University Medical College.
 

Abstract:

HPV-16 integration into the host chromosome is thought to be an event in cervical malignant transformation, as it may result in uncontrolled expression of viral E6/E7 oncoproteins after disruption or deletion of the viral E2 or E1 regulatory sequences. The purpose of the study was to determine the sites of E1 and E2 HPV16 sequence disruption in cervical cancer (Ca) and in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) as a control. The study was conducted in 26 women with HPV-16 infection (INNO-LiPA Genotyping, Belgium), with a diagnosis of Ca (n=11) and LSIL (n=15). Complete E1 and E2 sequences were amplified with 2 and 4 pairs of overlapping primer sets, respectively. The polymorphisms of E1 and E2 were identified by sequencing. The results were compared with the prototype sequence (Gen-Bank no. K02718). In the LSIL group, the deletion of the E1 or E2 sequence of HPV16 occurred at a similar rate (13%), while in 46% of the patients the disruption was detected in both genes. In 4 cases no damage was shown. In cervical cancer, interruption of the E2 sequence occurred in all samples but in 3 together within the E1 sequence. The most frequently occurring damage was the E2 hinge region. Preliminary studies suggest that the site of disruption within the E2 sequence m

  • Immunology Research |Clinical Trials for Diseases |Case Report in Clinical Trials |Virology Research |Monoclonal Antibodies
Location: Red Cedar Ballroom C
Speaker

Chair

Rongtuan Lin

McGill University, Canada

Session Introduction

Wenping Gong

The 309th Hospital of PLA, China

Title: The current status, challenges and future developments of new tuberculosis vaccines

Time : 10:45-11:10

Speaker
Biography:

Wenping Gong has completed his PhD at the age of 26 years from Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AMMS, China). Currently, he is an assistant professor in 309th Hospital of Chinese PLA, and his studies focus on developing novel TB vaccines. Furthermore, he is academic secretary of the tuberculosis branch of China International Exchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare, academic secretary of Beijing Key Laboratory of New Techniques of Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment. He has published more than 20 SCI cited papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of Journal of Bacteriology and Vaccine Research and GSL Journal of Vaccines and Vaccinations.
 

Abstract:

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) whose natural history traces back 70,000 years ago. In 2016, there were an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases globally, 1.3 million TB-associated deaths, and an additional 374,000 deaths from TB patients with co-infection of HIV-MTBC. Although the number of TB deaths decreased, TB remained one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. To address TB challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced the “End TB Strategy”, which indicates that the phased strategy has progressed from controlling the prevalence of TB (before 2015) to ending the prevalence of TB (2016-2035). The target for 2035 is a 95% reduction in TB deaths and a 90% reduction in the TB incidence rate compared to levels in 2015, and the target for 2050 is less than one TB patient per million people each year. However, challenges of controlling TB infection and developing more effective vaccines remain, and concerted effort will be required to achieve the global TB control strategy formulated by WHO. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent and control TB. As early as 1890, Robert Koch proposed the first immunotherapy against TB. However, bacilli Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only licensed preventive vaccine against TB and has existed for 96 years. Although BCG vaccination can effectively protect infants and young children from TB infection, and prevent severe diseases such as disseminated TB and tuberculous meningitis, it has variable efficacy against pulmonary TB, particularly in adults. Clinical trials conducted on adults in the United Kingdom (UK) have shown that the protective effect of BCG was 60 to 80%. However, studies performed with South African infants have shown that BCG had no protective effect. Reasons for this variability could be explained by several factors, including genetic differences, environmental factors, co-infection, production methods, the diversity of BCG strains, and the impact of poverty and nutrition. The BCG vaccine does not effectively stimulate the T cell mixed population (especially for CD8+ T cells), and the immuno-protective effect of BCG vaccination only persists for 10 to 15 years. Researchers worldwide have reached consensus that the development of more effective vaccines is necessary to compensate for the limitations of the BCG vaccine. With rapid developments in immunology and molecular biology, some novel TB vaccines have become available, including inactivated vaccines, recombinant live vaccines, attenuated live vaccines, subunit vaccines, and DNA vaccines. At present, there are 25 new TB vaccines in clinical trials, of which three vaccines (Vaccae in patients with latent TB infection (LTBI), Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP)/Mw, and VPM1002) have reached Phase III clinical trials. Three vaccines (Vaccae, Utilins, and BCG-PSN) have obtained registration certificates from the China Food and Drug Administration and have been widely used to clinically treat TB in China. However, three vaccines (rBCG30, AERAS-422, and H1:LTK63) have been terminated for their disappointing issues after phase I clinical trials. Herein, we review the developmental progress and challenges of these new TB vaccines, and we will also introduce five novel TB vaccines (Utilising, M. smegmatis, AEC/BC02, BCG-PSN, and GX-70) for the first time, which may give a fresh perception into the TB vaccine research field.
 

Cheng-Chuan Su

Tzu Chi University, Taiwan

Title: Human Herpesvirus type 8 in patients with chronic hepatitis

Time : 11:10-11:35

Speaker
Biography:

Cheng-Chuan Su has completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at the age of 31 years and in Clinical Pathology two years later and obtained the Master degree from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan when he was 32 years old. At present, he is the attending physician of Departments of Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, and the Professor of Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Tzu Chi University, Taiwan. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of reputed journals.
 

Abstract:

A high seroprevalence of human herpesvirus type (HHV-8) in mild cirrhotics is significantly associated with hepatitis activity. Cirrhosis is almost derived from chronic hepatitis. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HHV-8 infection in patients with chronic hepatitis. Blood samples collected from 129 patients with chronic hepatitis and 129 age- and sexmatched healthy controls were analyzed for monocyte and platelet counts, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), HHV-8 antibody and DNA, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Mean monocyte and platelet counts were significantly higher and lower in patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.02 and < 0.0001, respectively). Seropositive rate for HHV-8 antibodies was significantly greater in patients (32.6%) than in controls (20.9%, P = 0.04), particularly in patients with HCV infection, or higher plasma ALT levels, or both (P = 0.004, 0.01, and 0.0009, respectively). Antibody titers for HHV-8 in patients also exceeded those in controls (P = 0.02). The mean age of HHV-8 seropositive patients (60.3 years) was significantly older than that of seronegative (52.3 years) (P = 0.0007). Patients aged 55 or older had higher seropositive rate and titers for HHV-8 antibodies than those younger (P = 0.005 and 0.007, respectively). A significantly high HHV-8 seroprevalence is already present in patients with chronic hepatitis before the development of cirrhosis, particularly in patients with HCV infection and/or higher plasma ALT levels. Advancing age seems to play an important role in HHV-8 seroprevalence in a patient with chronic hepatitis.
 

Luo Yanping

General Hospital of Chinese PLA, China

Title: Analysis of antimicrobial resistance and risk factors of hospital acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection
Speaker
Biography:

Luo Yanping, Deputy Director of the Medical Examination Center, who is responsible for medical work in the department, engaged in clinical microbiological and immunological testing, and current committee member of the Chinese Committee on Antimicrobial susceptibility Testing (Chi CAST).
 

Abstract:

Objective: This study is intended to explore the risk factors and drug resistance features of hospital-acquired methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection by investigation on hospital-acquired MRSA infectious cases.
 
Methods: The clinical data of 88 cases with hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infection was collected in our hospital from July 2016 to June 2017 for hospital risk factors and drug resistance analysis; SPSS 16 software was used for statistical analysis of the data; χ2 test and Logistic regression were used for analysis.
 
Results: Logistic regression analysis was conducted on multiple variables. The kinds of antibiotics ≥3 kinds was the independent risk factor of MRSA respectively; More than 3 kinds of antibiotics were used and the infection rate was 64.86%; The OR values of the risk factor was 4.198; MRSA showed higher resistance to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, or tetracycline and rifampicin than MSSA, the drug resistance rate was 51.43%, 65.71%, 88.57%, 80%, 77.14% and 42.86% respectively.
 
Conclusion: Hospital-acquired MRSA multidrug resistance phenomenon is more serious, more than 3 kinds of antibiotics independent risk factor for MRSA infection, clinicians should strengthen the rational use of antimicrobial drugs according to patient characteristics, and actively take hospital infection prevention and control measures to prevent the emergence of multidrug resistance MRSA.
 

Iqbal Sami

TB Hospital Sardogha, Pakistan

Title: Role of treatment supporter in control of T.B through T.B control program working in district Sargodha Punjab Pakistan
Speaker
Biography:

Abstract:

Objectives: To evaluate the role of treatment supporter and their impact on patient treatment come out.

Material/Methods: The study was a cross sectionals survey in the routine T.B control program operational context. 200 smears positive. T.B patient were diagnosed and registered in T.B hospital Sargodha in one year 2016. With available come out were included in the study.

Results: The majority of patients (95%) were provided the treatment supporter, most of treatment supporter were (60%) LHW (9%) are community volunteers and (28%) are family members and (3%) are health facility worker. A total of 87% categorized as treatment success and (4%) transferred out (3.5%) expired and (4.5%) defaulted and 1% treatment failure.

Conclusion: The overall treatment success rate was (87%) and significantly high treatment success rate was (90%) in patient supervised by LHW compared to other patients. 

Meth Akash

District General Hospital, Srilanka

Title: Positives from the negatives
Speaker
Biography:

Abstract:

Pap smear is a good sample for identification of abnormalities in the cervix. Basic advantages are easy to handle and transport. After receiving the smears to the relevant lab, the medical laboratory technologists have to accept the samples and do the staining procedures. The technologist's responsibility is issuing the reports within 14 days. Because of that rule( issuing date) technologists have to work hard and fast. So difficult to get an ideal conclusion about the smear. (a) Deuto that time of period, some time they apply shortcuts in the staining procedures. They keep the short time period in the running tap water bath for the washing step. That hence excess hematoxylin staining particles will remain on the smear. So that nuclei and the chromatin cannot be seen very clearly. The other one is, they do not use Scott's tap water for the blueing. Nuclear chromatin is a very important factor from which get more information about the abnormal cells. Scott's tap water act as clearing agent and gives more blue contrast. Early abnormalities in the cervix can be missed when the application of the incomplete staining techniques. (b) Some smears covered with 60% of blood. So that is very difficult to find abnormal hypochromic cells. When they don't pay their attention that abnormal cells can be missed. It also misleads the negative results. (c) Some smears are overcrowded. Because they made it using a small part of the slide surface. All the normal and abnormal cells are in the one cells clump. When the screening the smear cannot go through the one by one cell. It also misleads the negative result. (d) Candida infection: In that infection cells get somewhat enlarge. When the screening, once they look candida organism in the smear, they consider only candida infection not the changes of the HPV. Some pap smears having both candida infection and HPV changes. But screeners report candida infection only.

Conclusions: (1) Due to that points, a Qualified technologist with experience must re-examine the random samples from every 100 slides of the negatives. (2) Medical laboratory technologist should be examined 25 slides for the day. Not more than that because they need more time to screen and make a good report.

Results: 2-4% of new cases can be found the form that negatives within 6 months. I think false positives better than false negatives. Because very positives patients who had a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ascus) have to repeat their second sample within six months. 

  • Poster session
Location: Red Cedar Ballroom C
Speaker

Chair

Gurfateh Singh

Rayat Bahra University, India

Session Introduction

Suliman Qadir Afridi

Technische Universität München, Germany

Title: Longitudinal evolution of norovirus in chronically infected patients
Speaker
Biography:

Suliman Qadir Afridi has received his BSc and MSc in microbiology and virology and now he is doing his PhD at the Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany. He is a DAAD scholar. He has published 3 papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

Norovirus (NoV) is responsible for most cases of pandemic and sporadic non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. Chronic infections have been described recently and will become more prevalent with increasing numbers of immunocompromised patients. Here, we studied the longitudinally genetic variability leading to immune escape and development of new quasi-species in chronically infected patients. To this aim, a quantitative ELISA was developed to measure NoV-specific IgG level chronically infected patients at different time points after infection. Evolution of NoV capsid gene was then assessed by next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular dynamic analysis (SASA, RMSD, RMSF, and Radius of gyration) and structural modeling in a total of 20 samples from 5 chronically infected patients. Consensus sequences of all samples were used for genotyping and multiple sequence alignment. Quasi-species was reconstructed with assembly tool. NoV-specific IgG level increased over time, however in one of the patients decreasing the level of antibody was detected 6 months post-infection indicating immune escape of the virus. Alignment analysis revealed several mutations in the capsid gene, especially in the p domain leading to changes in accessibility and confirmation of the B-cell epitopes. A number of reconstructed quasi-species was found to be increased at the onset of infection and decreased after a certain period in chronically infected patients which leads to cure. In conclusion, the present study showed the fast evolution of NoV capsid gene in chronically infected patients leading to structural change and generation of new quasi-species.
 

Naser Nazari

Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Title: Epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniases in cities of Kermanshah province, Iran
Biography:

Naser Nazari has completed his PhD at the age of 42 years from Sheffield University in England and he is working at Kermanshah University, School of Medicine for 10 years. He is head of the department of Parasitology and Mycology, medical school as an associated professor. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals

Abstract:

Cutaneous leishmaniases with two forms of rural and urban are the endemic diseases and as a health problem in Iran. The aim of this study was the determination of cutaneous leishmaniases in Kermanshah province. (2013-2015) This descriptiveanalytic study was and the statistical society includes individual information with diagnosis during the 2013-2015 in the county health department in combating communicable disease were registered. About 78% of the total 740 cases were male and 22% were female. Most cases were in the age group 20-29 year with 32-48. Most patients had a wound on his body. Most wounds were on hands. The most common seasonal prevalence was in the winter. 27.6% of patients had a history of travel to endemic areas in the past year. The most frequency of infection was in Kermanshah and Ghasre Shirin cities. According to the results obtained in this study and comparison with previous studies conducted in the province, it can be said implementation control and treatment programs conducted by the relevant authorities and the disease is not endemic in Kermanshah. It is also recommended to determine the disease status in the province, in this regard epidemiological studies should be done every few years.
 

Zhang Youjiang

General Hospital of Chinese PLA, China

Title: The main pathogenic bacteria distribution and drug resistance analysis of common surgical infection in general surgery
Speaker
Biography:

Zhang Youjiang is associate chief technician of Chinese people’s liberation army general hospital. His research focus on clinical microbiological and immunological testing over 30 years.
 

Abstract:

Objective: To retrospectively investigate the distribution and drug resistance of the main pathogens of common surgical infections in general surgery and to provide references for early and reasonable empirical treatment. Methods: The pathogens of the infected tissues, sputum, peritoneal drainage and puncture fluid were collected and identified in our hospital from January 2012 to January 2016. The pathogen type, distribution, and drug resistance were analyzed. Results: A total of 628 strains of pathogens were co-cultured in 397 infected patients. Among the 323 strains of pathogens, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 27.55% and 19.20% respectively. The number of pathogens isolated from the sputum samples was 213, and were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii predominantly, accounting for 44.60%, 17.37%, and 13.62% respectively. 92 strains of pathogens were isolated from intraperitoneal drainage and puncture fluid samples. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were mainly accounted for 45.65% and 10.87% respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli are highly sensitive to imipenem and meropenem. Enterococcus faecalis is resistant to vancomycin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa in addition to cefazolin and other antibacterial drugs other than ceftriaxone are more sensitive, and Acinetobacter baumannii was with highly multiple drug resistance. Conclusions: Patients with common surgical infection should be mainly Gram-negative bacilli, which are sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics and should be promptly inspected and selected according to the distribution of pathogens and drug susceptibility.

Wenya Huang

National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Title: Development of hepatitis B virus large surface protein pre-S2 mutant ELISA assay for predicting hepatoma risk in chronic carriers
Speaker
Biography:

Wenya Huang has completed her PhD from Wayne State University and postdoctoral studies from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She is full professor in Medical Laboratory Science & Biotechnology in National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. She has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute.
 

Abstract:

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a major cause of HCC worldwide. Long-term monitoring of high-risk markers in chronic HBV carriers is important to identify the ones that need frequent follow-up or uptake prophylactic therapies. Though up to now the methods (e.g. ultrasound) and tumor markers (e.g. alpha-fetal protein) to diagnose HCC has been established, the high-risk markers for HCC incidence and recurrence have not been fully identified, given that HCC tumorigenesis is a complex process regulated by various crosstalks between host and viral factors. The pre-S2 deletion mutant large HBS (LHBS), isolated from the type 2 ground glass hepatocyte, has been found highly associated with HCC. To detect the pre-S deletion in LHBS, we developed a pre-S Gene Chip, which detects the pre-S deletion based on DNA hybridization of the HBS genes in patients to the DNA probes on the chip. We have also recently pursued to develop the ELISA system and sought its clinical application to test the pre-S2 mutant LHBS in clinical serum samples. The performances of the detection systems in clinical specimens have been validated. The products of monoclonal antibodies and respective ELISA systems, as well as Pre-S Gene Chip, have gained the US and Taiwan patent approval. Using these detection methods, we have identified the pre-S2 mutant LHBS as a predictive marker for HCC recurrence after the receiving hepatectomy surgeries.