Blogging as a Tool for Real-Time Learning in Medical Microbiology.

Blogging is a widely used social medium for storing and sharing information online. Being an attractive online interface, some studies show that education blogging or edublogging might promote more engaged learning. An apathy to contemporary issues related to one's area of study can result in a less knowledgeable student who is less ready for the job industry. To bridge the gap between classroom learning and awareness of emerging issues pertaining to the field of study and potential employment - blogging of ongoing events in a select microbiological field was proposed as a graded semester-long activity called "Disease Tracking." The exercise involved instructing students to choose one infectious disease topic, for which traditional and non-traditional scientific information could be sourced with high frequency over the preceding months. Students were to document new information on the topic as it became available over the term, from reliable information resources. At the end of the term, students presented their work in a "Blog show-off" presentation session. Blog-based learning was found to be an engaging tool that satisfied all criteria under Bloom's taxonomy. Students developed a continued intrigue for the chosen topic and appreciated the diverse fields in which fundamentals of infectious diseases learned in class, could be applied within and outside academia. Students also valued this experience and feedback showed that the freedom to choose their own topic (77%), opportunity to learn more from other students' blogs (77%), less stress as they were not competing on identical topics (73%), a "fun way" to learn (68%), and an opportunity to understand the importance of staying abreast with scientific news (64%) stood out as the chief positive points of the exercise to the students. In view of these benefits, blogs can be used for an immersive, broad learning experience in Microbiology and other fields in which there is likely to be a frequency of new information online.

Identification of microalgae cultured in Bold's Basal medium from freshwater samples, from a high-rise city.

This study aimed at exploring microalgal heterogeneity from fresh water samples collected from inland water bodies in the heavily built city of Singapore. Culturable pure isolates (n = 94) were subject to an in-house microalgal DNA extraction method and LSU rDNA sequencing. Isolates were analysed for their predominance and distribution. A total of 17 different algal genera were identified (H = 2.8, EH = 0.6), of which Scenedesmus spp. and Chlorella spp. constituted 27.5% and 21.3% of isolates respectively, followed by Micractinium spp. (18.8%) and Chlamydomonas spp. (12.5%). We also report 16 new microalgal strains from this region. The data is important from an ecological and biotechnological perspective.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in association with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis: views over hidden possibilities.

Gut immune components are severely compromised among persons with AIDS, which allows increased translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into the systemic circulation. These microbial LPS are reportedly increased in chronically HIV-infected individuals and findings have correlated convincingly with measures of immune activation. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an adverse consequence of the restoration of pathogen-specific immune responses in a subset of HIV-infected subjects with underlying latent infections during the initial months of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Whether IRIS is the result of a response to a high antigen burden, an excessive response by the recovering immune system, exacerbated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines or a lack of immune regulation due to inability to produce regulatory cytokines remains to be determined. We theorize that those who develop IRIS have a high burden of proinflammatory cytokines produced also in response to systemic bacterial LPS that nonspecifically act on latent mycobacterial antigens. We also hypothesize that subjects that do not develop IRIS could have developed either tolerance (anergy) to persistent LPS/tubercle antigens or could have normal FOXP3+ gene and that those with defective FOXP3+ gene or those with enormous plasma LPS could be vulnerable to IRIS. The measure of microbial LPS, anti-LPS antibodies and nonspecific plasma cytokines in subjects on HAART shall predict the role of these components in IRIS.

Pharyngeal carriage of group A streptococci in school children in Chennai.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Asymptomatic pharyngeal carriage of group A streptococci (GAS) in children may lead to spread of respiratory infections in the community. Data on healthy GAS carriers in the community are therefore important. We carried out this preliminary study to screen the school children from various parts of Chennai city, south India to detect pharyngeal carriage of GAS. METHODS: Throat swabs were collected from 1,173 school children aged 5 to 17 yr from different locations in Chennai. The isolates of beta haemolytic streptococci were serogrouped by agglutination tests using specific antisera. RESULTS: Beta haemolytic streptococci were isolated from 16.3 per cent of 1,102 asymptomatic children. 71 children of the study group had untreated tonsillitis positive for beta haemolytic streptococci. The percentage of asymptomatic GAS carriers was 8.4 per cent. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The high carriage rate of beta haemolytic streptococci seen in children poses a threat to the community and should be checked. Regular screening needs to be done in various parts of the country.

Does CD4+CD25+foxp3+ cell (Treg) and IL-10 profile determine susceptibility to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in HIV disease?

HIV-specific T-lymphocyte responses that underlie IRIS are incomplete and largely remain hypothetical. Of the several mechanisms presented by the host to control host immunological damage, Treg cells are believed to play a critical role. Using the available experimental evidence, it is proposed that enormous synthesis of conventional FoxP3- Th cells (responsive) often renders subjects inherently vulnerable to IRIS, whereas that of natural FoxP3+ Treg cell synthesis predominate among subjects that may not progress to IRIS. We also propose that IRIS non-developers generate precursor T-cells with a high avidity to generate CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs whereas IRIS developers generate T-cells of intermediate avidity yielding Th0 cells and effector T-cells to mediate the generation of proinflammatory cytokines in response to cell-signaling factors (IL-2, IL-6 etc.). Researchers have shown that IL-10 Tregs (along with TGF-beta, a known anti-inflammatory cytokine) limit immune responses against microbial antigens in addition to effectively controlling HIV replication, the prime objective of HAART. Although certain technical limitations are described herein, we advocate measures to test the role of Tregs in IRIS.

Antibiotic resistant beta-hemolytic streptococci.

OBJECTIVE: An antibiotic-sensitivity study was conducted on 117 strains of group A streptococcus (GAS), 60 strains of group G streptococcus (GGS) and 20 strains of group C streptococcus (GCS) in order to understand current resistance trends. METHODS: All strains were tested by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method to 15 antibiotics. Resistant strains were confirmed by testing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibiotics by broth dilution technique. RESULTS: Among GAS, highest resistance was observed to tetracycline (27.4%) and erythromycin (16.2%). The GGS and GCS tested, showed similar resistance patterns. CONCLUSION: All beta-hemolytic streptococci were susceptible to penicillin, amoxycillin, cephalosporins and linezolid. Resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, and quinolones is emerging.