13^th Training Course on Immunodiagnostics for Infectious Diseases:

            A National Level Training Course was conducted on “Immunodiagnostics for Infectious Diseases” during February 12-17, 2007.  Dr. S.R. Rao, Advisor, Dept. of Biotechnology, was the Chief Guest during the inaugural function.  Dr. S. Chabbra 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 one participants selected for the course included the faculty members from Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry of different Medical institutes and Scientists and research scholars from Research labs and universities representing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala, New Delhi and Karnataka.  The participants were trained not only in the diagnostic tests developed for filariasis and 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. B.C. Harinath on “ELISA based immunodiagnostics for detection and monitoring of filarial and tuberculosis from research laboratory to hospital setting”, Dr R. S. Paranjape (Director, National AIDS Research Institute) on “Immunodiagnostics and other Molecular aspects related to HIV infection”, Dr. Kalpana Murthy (CDRI, Lucknow) on “ Pro- and anti- inflammatory mediators in filarial disease, Dr. Sita Naik (SGPGIMS, Lucknow) on “The cellular immune response in acute hepatitis- E virus infection: Do they play a role in liver cell damage”,  Dr. B. Ravindran (Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar) on “Insights on embryogenesis in filarial parasites”, Prof. Gopal. K. Kuller (PGIMER, Chandigarh) on “Development of Vaccine against Tuberculosis” and “Evolving VISTAS in Nanobiotechnology-based Antitubercular Chemotherapy”, Dr. Jaya Tyagi (AIIMS, New  Delhi) on “Challenges and Solutions to the diagnosis of Tuberculosis : Our experience”,  Dr. M.G. Karmarkar (K. E. M. hospital, Mumbai) on “Immunodiagnosis of Group A Streptococcal infections with special emphasis on preparation and purification of antigens and anti- sCPA immune responses”, Dr. M. V. R. Reddy on “ Protective immunity in filariasis: Identification of filarial vaccine candidates”, and Dr. Kalyan Goswami on “Quality control in diagnostic laboratory set up”.

Visitors:

Ø                  Israeli Medical students on student exchange programme visited the Centre on 22^nd January, 2007.

Research Training and Project Work:

Ø                  Mr. P. B. Janardhana from Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Anantapur, completed Short – Term Training course on “Possible effect of oxidative stress on motility of microfilaria of Brugia malayi: invitro” from 8^th December 2006 to 7th March 2007.

Ø                  Ms. Tarika Chauhan from G. H. Raisoni college, Nagpur University, Nagpur joined the Centre for Dissertation Project on ‘Immunodiagnosis of Tuberculosis’ from 15^th January, 2007.

Ø                  Mr. Rajabrata Bhuyan from Orissa University of Agriculture & Technoiogy, Bhubaneswar joined the Bioinformatics Centre for Short-term project on “Health Informatics” from 1^st March, 2007.

Ø                  Mr. Dibyabhaba Pradhan from Orissa University of Agriculture & Technoiogy, Bhubaneswar joined the Bioinformatics Centre for Short-term project on “Medical Tourism” from 1^st March, 2007.

Participation in Meetings / Conference / Symposia:

Dr. B. C. Harinath

Ø                  Visited SVYASA, Bangalore for conducting Ph.D. Viva in Yogic Sciences on 9^th  January 2007 and also visited Pyramid Meditation Centre, near Bangalore.

Ø                  Visited Vanaprastha, Dhyana Prastha and Pyramid Residency Cottages for Holistic Living at Coimbatore established under the guidance of Shri. Swami Dayananda Saraswathi on January 30, 2007.

Ø                  Was the Chief Guest on National Science Day celebration at NEERI, Nagpur and delivered a talk on “Nature Vs Nurture- the dancing Genes” on February 28, 2007.

Dr. M.V.R. Reddy

Ø                  Participated in Task Force Meeting on Biotech facilities at Dept. of Biotechnology, Ministry of S & T, New Delhi and presented report on the ‘Achievements during 10^th plan and future plans’ of the filarial Repository Project on 9^th March 2007.

Ø                  Dr. M.V.R. Reddy has joined “Biotechnology Overseas Associationship” sponsored by Dept. of Biotechnology, Ministry of S & T, Govt. of India to work as Visiting Professor at University of Illinois school of Medicine, Rockford, Il, USA during March to June, 2007.

Dr. Satish Kumar attended DBT’s ‘XVIIIth Annual BTISnet Coordinator’s Meet 2007’, organized by Bioinformatics Centre and State Council of Science & Technology at Gangtok, Sikkim during February 3-4, 2007.  He presented the Progress Report of our Bioinformatics Centre.

Mr. Pramod Deshmukh attended DBT’s ‘XVIIIth Annual BTISnet Coordinator’s Meet 2007’, organized by Bioinformatics Centre and State Council of Science & Technology at Gangtok, Sikkim during February 3-4, 2007. 

Research Publications:

N. Shende, V. Upadhye, S. Kumar, N. Gangane and B.C. Harinath.  Study of M. tuberculosis ES - 31 and ES - 20 antigen levels in different pathogenic grades of lymph node tuberculosis.  The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, February 2007; 11(2): 222-226(5).

A.K. Das, S. Banerjee, S. Kumar, M.V.R. Reddy, B.C. Harinath.  Immunoscreening of clinically suspected pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases using ES-31 and ES-41 antigens – hospital case study.  The Indian Practitioner, December 2006; 59(12):801-804.

Arogyadham :

Dr. T. Kathickeyan conducted 1 day Yoga & Naturopathy camp for students at Bhavan’s Lyods Vidya Niketan, Wardha on 20^th March, 2007.

Meetings of Friends of Arogyadham:

            Regular meetings of friends of Arogyadham were held on 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays of the month January, February and March.  Video & Audio clippings on ‘Practical Approach to Life’ by Smt. Hansaji Yogendra; ‘Spiritual Reality’ by Spiritual Realities Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore; ‘The Science of Meditation Vol.-1 by Brahmarshi Patriji and ‘Celebrate: Life is a Gift’ by Osho were screened.

HERBAL GARDEN:

            Work of the wasteland development of about 220 acres behind Medical Institute was started on October 2^nd 2002 and developed into Herbal Garden by Jain Charities through JISL. Water is brought by a 5-6 Km. pipeline from Pawnar river.  Presently Aonla (20500), Ritha (50), Karanj (103), Neem (292), Ashoka (155), Custard apple (105), Banana (13000) have been planted under drip irrigation.  Out of total Aonla plants about 3000 plants are flowering and 200 plants have started fruiting.  Application of farm yard manure and neem cake is in progress. 

            Onion seed crop (intercrop in Aonla) in about 25 acres is in harvesting stage.  Banana, another intercrop in Aonla is also being harvested and will be uprooted by the end of April 2007.  This year again ‘Cotton with drip’ is planned for demonstration to farmers in adjoining districts.  This will be sown after 25^th May, on an area of about 5 acres between Aonla plants.
 

Aonla plants bearing fruits for the first time

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