DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

 

1.      Faculty members and their research interests:

Name of the faculty & designation

Research  Interest

E-mail Address

Dr.S.C. Parija

Professor & Head

Medical Parasitology,Molecular Biology, HIV  and associated infections

subhashparija@yahoo.co.in

Dr.B.N Harish

Professor

Clinical Bacteriology &

Immunology

drbnharish@yahoo.com

Dr.(Mrs) S.Sujatha

Clinical Virology,Clinical Bacteriology

sujathasistla@gmail.com

Dr.Jharna Mandal

Clinical Bacteriology,

Medical Parasitology

drjharna@gmail.com

Dr.Rakhi Biswas

Anaerobic bacteriology,Water analysis

drrakhibiswas@gmail.com

Dr. Rakesh Singh

Mycology, HIV  and associated infections

drrakesh1976@yahoo.com

Dr.Rahul Dhodapkar

Clinical Virology

rahuldhodapkar@gmail.com

 

2. No. of Postgraduate admissions per year

                                i.            M.D- 4

                              ii.            Ph.D – 2

                            iii.            M.Sc(MLT)-4

3. Highlights of patient care

·         Total no. of investigations undertaken:1,00,000 per annum

·         Different diagnostic tests available in the different sections of the department:

o        Diagnostic Bacteriology – Microscopy and culture of body fluids, pus, swabs, tissues, stool, urine, blood and other body fluids.  Antibiotic susceptibility testing of bacterial isolatesand MIC(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) testing

o       Screening for MRSA,VISA,VRE,ESBLs

§      Exudate Section-Staining Procedures-Gram staining,Albert staining

-    Culture for sterile body fluids like CSF,peritoneal fluid and other exudates

-    Susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates

§      Blood Culture Section-Blood culture-conventional and BacTAlert

-    Dark ground microscopy for spirochetes,Fontana staining for spirochetes

-    Leptospira culture maintenance

§   Urine culture section

-    Urine samples direct microscopy

-    Culture of urine samples and susceptibility testing

§   Stool culture section-Culture and sensitivity

§   Anaerobic Bacteriology

-     Culture of obligate anaerobic bacteria with the Anoxomat System

o Parasitology section :

-          Stool microscopy for intestinal parasites

-          Acid-fast stain of  stool smears for coccidian parasites, microscopy of hydatid fluid, microscopy of hydrocele fluid and urine for microfilaria and of corneal scrapings for free living amoebae

-          microscopy and culture of liver pus for amoeba, stool culture for Entamoeba

-          Multiplex PCR for identification of Entamoeba species

-          IHA for filariasis, cystic echinococosis, invasive amoebiasis

-          IgM ELISA for cysticercosis, Co-agglutination test for cysticercus antigen in serum and CSF in cysticercosis

-          EITB for cysticercosis and cystic echinococcosis

-          IgM ELISA for cystic echinococcosis,Co-agglutination test for hydatid antigen in serum in cystic echinococosis

-          Peripheral Smear and QBC for malaria parasite.

-          Immunochromatographic  test  for malaria parasite

 

 

o       Immunology  Section:

-          Tests for syphillis- VDRL test, TPHA

-          Febrile agglutination tests- Widal test,Standard Agglutination Test(SAT),Weil Felix Test,Paul Bunnel Test

-          Acute phase reactants- ASLO test, RA factor test, C-reactive protein test(Nephelometry)

-          Tests for leptospirosis-IgM ELISA for leptospirosis,MAT for leptospirosis

-          Antinuclear antibodies-IFA test for ANA,ELISA for dsDNA antibodies

o       Virology Section

-          ELISA for HbsAg,ICT test for HbsAg,AntiHBsAg antibodies ELISA,

-          IgG ELISA for HCV, IgM and IgG ELISA for EBV

-          IgM ELISA and IgG ELISA for antibodies against Dengue

-          IgM ELISA for antibodies against Rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV)   and herpes simplex virus (HSV 1 and HSV 2)

-          Real-time PCR for diagnosis of seasonal flu and novel Influenza virus

o         HIV section –

-          HIV testing facilities

-          CD4 count using Flowcytometry

-          ICTC Centre-provides counselling for general clients

-          State Reference Lab for ICTC,Blood bank and PPTCT

o       Mycology section –

-          KOH  mount for direct detection of fungi in clinical specimens

-          Fungal culture and antifungal susceptibility testing

-          India ink stain for Cryptococcus neoformans, gram stain for candidiasis, culture for fungi

-          Antigen detection for  C. neoformans in CSF and serum by  latex agglutination.  

o       Mycobacteriology section – Microscopy and culture of sputum and other clinical specimens for mycobacteria.

-          Designated microscopy center for mycobacteria

-          ZN staining and Fluorescent staining technique for mycobacteria(Auramine phenol staining)

-          BacTAlert system for rapid diagnosis of mycobacterial infections

-          Nested PCR  for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sterile body fluids

o       Water analysis-

-          Presumptive  coliform count and differential count

-           

o       Hospital infection control

-          Culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

-          OT surveillance

-          Quality control of disinfectants

o       Molecular biology

-          Nested PCR for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

-          Multiplex PCR for diagnosis of Entamoeba species

-          PCR for diagnosis of Leptospira species

 

4. Special  equipments/facilities available:

-          Equipment for conventional PCR(Thermocycler,UV transilluminator)

-          Real time PCR

-          Flowcytometer(FACS)

-          Lyophillizer

-          Microscan Walkaway System

-          Western blotting unit

-          Nephelometer,turbidometer

-          Dark ground and Fluorescence microscope

 

5. Major Research Projects

·         Detection of specific antigen in serum and other body fluids in neurocysticercosis.

·         Molecular diagnosis of neurocysticercosis

·         Phenotypic and molecular characterization of ESBL producing enterobacteriaceae (UGC funded)

·         Molecular diagnosis of amoebiasis

·         Mechanism of ciprofloxacin resistance in Salmonella

·         Utility of Urine dipstick test for the screening of Urinary tract infections in catheterized women following Gynaecological surgeries.

·         Resistance and serotyping of Shigella spp.

 

6. Other notable achievements/contributions to health sciences

·         The department of Microbiology conducts a hands –on training workshop on “Simple diagnostic methods  in infectious diseases” every year in the month of November. The 8th 5 day National workshop on “Simple Diagnostic Methods in Clinical Microbiology was conducted by the department  from 27th Nov to 1st Dec 2009. The main objective of the workshop was to demonstrate through hands -on training, the various rapid, simple and inexpensive diagnostic techniques suitable for application and adaptive in a low cost laboratory.

·         A CME programme on HIV and associated infections is organized every year by the department in the month of Feb-March. CME on opportunistic infection in HIV for postgraduate residents of JIPMER and other  medical colleges in and around Puducherry on 16/03/2010 organized by dept. of microbiology with the support  of NACO

·         A CME on Influenza A H1N1/2009 was held jointly by the departments of Microbiology and Preventive and Social Medicine on 27th November 2009

·         WHO supported “Regional Influenza Laboratory” for the surveillance of human, avian and swine influenza was started iin the Department of Microbiology on 27th November 2009.

·         Flowcytometer inauguration for CD4 Count on 16th March 2010.

·         Text book of Microbiology authored by Dr SC Parija and published by Elsevier  publications

·         Text book of Microbiology and Immunology authored by Dr SC Parija and published by Elsevier Publication.

·         Short Review Series in Microbiology authored by Dr SC Parija and published by Elsevier Publication.

·         Dr.S.C. Parija contributed to the “Hypersensitivity” Chapter in the text book of Immunology. Editor Dr. S.K. Gupte.

·         Dr.S.Sujatha contributed to the   - Laboratory Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in text book of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV/AIDS 2nd Edu. Editor Vinod K. Sharma

·         Dr. S C Parija, Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology has been conferred the fellowship of Royal college of Parasitologists ( FRCPath) by the Royal College of Parasitology , London, U.K in recognition of his contributions to the field of Microbiology.

·         Dr. S.C. Parija Professor and Head, Dept. of Microbiology, JIPMER has been conferred D.Sc by the University of Madres in recognition of his contributions to the field of Parasitology.

·         EQAS workshop for Medical officer and technician for HIV of Puducherry was held on 05/03/2010-06/03/2010 in the department.

·         Refresher training for technicians of Puducherry was held on 30/03/2010-01/04/2010 by the Dept of microbiology with the support of NACO.

·         World TB Day was observed on 24th March 2010 in the dept. of Microbiology, JIPMER