Caption: Dr. Kalai Mathee, Founder Chairperson, Dept. of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, is seen with Prof. V.G.Talwar, Mysore University VC; Dr. Shubha Gopal, Chairperson, Dept. of Microbiology; Prof. Ravishankar Rai and others after signing the MoU at Crawford Hall.
Mysore, July 13
A UGC innovative-invited lecture series on Genes, Greens and 65 Roses- The Pseudomonas Aeruginosa connection, organised by the Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, by Dr. Kalai Mathee, Founder Chairperson, Dept. of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, was held at the Microbiology Seminar Hall at Manasagangotri campus in city on Wednesday.
Dr. Kalai Mathee, speaking on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, said that it is a Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium that is capable of both aerobic and anaerobic growth and is abundant in various types of moist environments.
This opportunistic pathogen is commonly associated with hospital-acquired infection, mostly in immuno-compromised individuals, she added.
This bacterium is the second most frequently recovered pathogen from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, she said.
She also said that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a variety of severe and sometimes lethal infections of respiratory tract, urinary tract, intestines, eyes, ears and wounds and added that it has become a serious threat to immuno-compromised patients and was difficult to treat due to its increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Dr. Kalai said that chronic infections with P. aeruginosa remains the most common case of morbidity and mortality among patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), an inherited genetic disease and the patients are usually prescribed antibiotic therapy.
She further said that the treatment often fails in CF patients due to emergence of resistant strains that produce mucus.
Dr. Kalai said P. aeruginosa can be found in: moist environment such as soil and water, lakes, streams, rivers, and other fresh waters, potable water sources such as sinks and showers, fresh fruits and vegetables etc.
The lecture explored the microbial ecology using metagenomic tools to determine bacterial diversity in the lungs of CF patients.
Research scholars from CFTRI, DFRL, Dept. of Microbiology, Bio-Chemistry, Bio-Technology and other departments attended. Prof. Ravishankar Rai, Dr. Shubha Gopal, Chairperson, Prof. Manja, former Director, DRDO, Dr. N.B.Ramachandra, Prof. Gopal Marate, Prof. Ramachandra Kini, Prof. Lokanath and others were present.
source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / July 13th, 2012