12^th Training Course on Immunodiagnostics for Infectious Diseases:

            A National level Training Course was conducted on “Immunodiagnostics for Infectious Diseases” during February 6 – 11, 2006, Dr. V. M. Katoch, Director, Central JALMA Institute of Leprosy, Agra was the Chief Guest during the inaugural function. Dr. (Mrs). P. Narang presided over the function and welcomed the guests and participants. Dr. B. C. Harinath, Director, JBTDRC briefed the gathering on the importance of the course. Dr. M. V. R. Reddy, Course Organizer and Head, Department of Biochemistry presented the theme of workshop. Twenty participants selected for the course included the faculty members from Departments of Microbiology, Biochemistry of different Medical Institutes and Scientists and research scholars from Research Labs and Universities representing the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kolkata, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala. The participants were trained not only on the diagnostic tests developed for Filariasis & Tuberculosis, but also on the basic methods needed to develop such assays for other diseases. Apart from Laboratory training, lectures were arranged on the theme of the course from different experts viz., Dr.V.M Katoch on “Advances in the molecular tools for the diagnosis and management of drug resistance tuberculosis”, Dr. B.C. Harinath on “ELISA based immunodiagnostics for detection and monitoring of filaria and tuberculosis from research laboratory to hospital settings”, Prof. Vijay Chowdary (University of Delhi) on “HIV diagnostics”, Dr.P. Kaliraj (Anna University, Chennai) on “Filarial genome project and molecular tools for diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis”, Dr. D.N. Rao (AIIMS, New Delhi) on “Development of indigenous immunoreagents for the detection of HRP-2 and LDH antigen of P.falciparum”, Dr.S.L. Hoti (VCRC (ICMR), Pondicherry) on “Diagnostic for dengue- problems and perspectives” , Dr.V. Murugan (Anna University, Chennai) on “Molecular medicines” and Dr. M. V. R. Reddy on “Towards vaccine development in filariasis’. The course was well received by the participants as per the feed back given by them on February 11^th, 2005 during the valedictory function which was presided over by Dr.(Mrs).P.Narang, Dean of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences.

Visitors:

Dr. Mrudula Phadke, Vice Chancellor, MUHS, Nashik visited the Centre and was shown various research facilities at JBTDRC on 2nd January 2006.

Short Term Projects in Biotechnology:

• Mr. Ravi Shankar Upadhyay, from Agnihotri College of Science (JMSS), Nagpur University, joined the Centre for   short-term training programme in Biotechnology from 1^st January, 2006.  

•  Ms. Sunayana Kothari from GH Raisoni College, Nagpur University, joined the Centre for short-term training programme in Biotechnology from 1^st January, 2006.  

•  Ms. Richa Sharma from GH Raisoni College, Nagpur University, joined the Centre for short-term training programme in Biotechnology from 1^st January, 2006.

•  Mr. HBD Prasad Rao from Plant Biotech Laboratory, Dept. of Biotechnology, IIT, Kharagpur visited Centre during 13^th – 25^th March, 2006 for screening compounds for anti filarial activity.

 Participation in Meetings / Conference / Symposia:

Dr. B. C. Harinath

• Attended National Symposium on Bioinformatics held at KVAFSU, College of Fisheries, Mangalore during 1-2 February 2006.

• Attended XVII Annual BTISnet Coordinators Meeting and presented the 2005 – 2006 progress report of Bioinformatics Centre held at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod during 3-4 February 2006.

• Attended Immunology Foundation Trustees meeting at New Delhi on 18^th February 2006.

Dr. M.V.R. Reddy

• Participated in DBT Task Force Meeting on ‘Infrastructure projects & biotech facilities’ held at New Delhi on February 28th, 2006 and presented the report on the progress in the ongoing research project ‘Repository for filarial parasites and reagents’.

• Participated in the ‘Consultative Meeting on the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP)’ and co-chaired the ‘Core experts group meeting on the Global Elimination Programme for Lymphatic Filariasis’ held on March 21st 2006 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.

• Participated in the National Task Force Meeting on ‘Lymphatic Filariasis’ held under the Chairmanship of Director General of Health Services on March 22nd 2006 at Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi.

 Dr. Satish Kumar

• Presented a paper on “TbDB – a database software for storage and retrieval of tuberculosis patients’ information” in National Symposium on Bioinformatics held at KVAFSU, College of Fisheries, Mangalore during 1-2 February 2006.

• Attended XVII Annual BTISnet Coordinators Meeting held at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod during 3-4 February 2006.

Mr. Pramod Deshmukh Attended National Symposium on Bioinformatics held at KVAFSU, College of Fisheries,  Mangalore during 1-2 February 2006.

Mr. Vijay Upadhye attended National Workshop on ‘Application of bioinformatics in structural and molecular biology’ held at Bose Institute, Calcutta during  February 23-24, 2006.

Research Publications:

• Pankaj Dabir, Snehal Dabir, B.V.Siva Prasad & M.V.R.Reddy.  Isolation and analysis of partial cDNA sequence coding for superoxide dismutase in Wuchereria bancrofti.  Infection. Genetics and Evolution 2005. (PMID: 16199210).

• Y.P. Bhandary, K.N.Krithika, Sandeep Kulkarni, M.V.R.Reddy & B.C.Harinath. Detection of dehydrogenases and proteases in Brugia malayi parasites, Indian Journal of clinical Biochemistry, 2006; 21 (1): 36-42.

 Arogyadham:

Yoga camp:

• January 13, 2006: Guruma Sunitaji from Nashik conducted One day camp on Meditation. About 15 participants were benefited by the camp.

• February 5, 2006: Dr. O.P. Gupta, Professor, Dept. of Medicine took keen interest in conducting  camps on Hypertension & Cardiac disease and life style management through Naturopathy and Yoga. It was well received.

 Meetings of Friends of Arogyadham:

            Regular meetings of ‘Friends of Arogyadham’ were held on 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month of January, February and March. Video clippings on ‘Inner Management’ by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev; ‘Islands of Dharma by Vipassana Research Institute; ‘Vipassana: Mind & Matter by Prof. S.N. Goenka; ‘Spiritual Laws of Success by Shri. Deepak Chopra were shown to Friends of Arogyadham.

Herbal Garden:

            Work of the wasteland development of about 250 acres behind Medical Institute was started on October 2^nd 2002 and developed for Herbal Garden by Jain Charities through JISL. Water is brought by a 5-6 Km pipeline from Pawnar river. Presently Aonla (20556), Ritha (50), Karanj (103), Neem (292), Ashoka (155), Custard apple (105) have been planted under drip irrigation. 90% grafting of Aonla plants has been completed. FYM and vermicompost are being given to Aonla plants.  First crop of Aonla plants is expected this season.