Many countries are currently implementing the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) surveillance program which relies upon microbiology laboratories producing accurate patient test results. This in turn, is dependent upon providing testing staff with appropriate training and competency. In many middle or low-income nations, minimal training occurs, documentation is inadequate and competency assessments are often not conducted. Adequate training furthers the knowledge of the organization and develops staff competency which is especially important in situations with insufficient qualified laboratory professionals. Harmonized and comprehensive training programs based on job descriptions are essential and in keeping with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).Additionally, training and competency are essential components of the Quality Management System and meet the international

requirements for ISO 15189 accreditation. Training needs to be test and process specific, thorough, documented and measured to determine if competency has been achieved. Laboratory management is required to establish competency criteria, assess the competence of personnel to perform assigned managerial or technical tasks, provide feedback to persons assessed, schedule retraining based on the assessment outcome and maintain records. Methods to determine competency include one or more of direct observation, monitoring and recording of examination results, review of work records, testing blinded samples, verification of prior PT results, demonstration of

problem-solving skills and review of accumulative Internal Quality Control (IQC) and External Quality Assurance (EQA) results. This needs to occur for every test and process in the laboratory. Documentation may include using an Excel spreadsheet, suitable software or a Word document. This is also an opportunity to promote standardization in-country throughout the network using the same training templates, policies and SOPs. Indeed, training and competency are the foundation of any laboratory upon which all else is built and vital for improving the laboratory’s role in preventive care.

Aminu Mohammed has completed his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa at Biomedical Research Lab. His research interest focuses on screening and isolation of potent phytochemicals with antidiabetic or antitrypanosomal potentials from vast wealth of plants located in African region using modern spectroscopic techniques. His interest is also in elucidating the possible mode of actions of extracts or compounds from the plants using various invitro and in vivo models.

Ellagic acid has been found to possess trypano suppressive effects and ameliorated some of the organ pathological complications

but it is unknown whether the effects were mediated through an antioxidant related mechanism. This work, therefore, investigated the effects of ellagic acid on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants profile of Trypanosoma congolense infected rats. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly decreased (p˂0.05) across all organs in the ellagic acid treated groups. There was a significant increase (p˂0.05) in glutathione levels in group treated with 200 mg/kg BW ellagic acid across all organs. However, treatment with ellagic acid did not significantly (p˂0.05) change superoxide dismutase level in the liver of rats but an increase was observed in the kidney, spleen and heart of the treated groups. The 100 mg/kg BW of ellagic acid increased catalase levels (p˂0.05) in all organs except the kidney. We therefore concluded that ellagic acid boosted endogenous antioxidant reserves and reduced lipid peroxidation.

Iana Suly Santos Katz has completed her PhD in Immunology at University of Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2012. She is the Scientific Researcher at the Pasteur Institute,

São Paulo, Brazil. She has experience in the area of immunology and virology and particularly she is interested in pathogenesis of the rabies.

Statement of the Problem: Rabies is one of the most important zoonosis that affects the central nervous system of mammals, particularly in the orders Carnivores and Chiroptera. Insectivorous bats are the main reservoirs of Rabies Lyssavirus (RABLV) in various regions of the world. From that decade on, as canine rabies came under control in many municipalities and molecular and  antigenic typing were incorporated in surveillance programs, the importance of nonhematophagous bats in the epidemiology of the disease began to be appreciated in these countries. In the present study, we analyzed virulence and

pathogenesis of RABLV associated with insectivorous bats.

Methodology: For evaluation of the pathogenesis, RABLV were inoculated by intradermical route in mice and clinical signs observed for 40 days. All parameters were compared with fixed virus (CVS-31).

Findings: We observed that the insectivorous strain showed a higher replication rate, slowly cell-to-cell spread and lesser pathogenicity in mice when compared to the fixed virus. Our results indicate that the insectivorous strain showed lower virulence and pathogenicity compared with the virus fixed, as well as strains associated with other reservoirs.

Conclusion & Significance: These results can contribute to a better understanding of the RABLV pathogenesis of isolates from insectivorous bats, which is useful for plan strategies to control rabies.

Ashok Kumar did his MBBS from LLRM Medical College, Meerut and subsequently MD from the same college in 1992. He has served in AIIMS, New Delhi as a Senior Resident from 1993-1996 in the Centre for Community Medicine. Then he was appointed as a Chief Medical Officer of Farraka Barrage Project Hospital,Farraka, West Bengal under Ministry of Water Resource, Government of India in 1996. He has then joined Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research(PGIMER), Chandigarh, India as a Deputy Medical Superintendent and currently working as a Professor in Department of Hospital Administration and looking after administrative services of Advanced Cardiac Centre.

Infection control practices in the laundry services is an inevitable prerequisite for TQM, HAI prevention, healthcare worker safety, quality cure, cost-effectiveness and marketing triumph in a hospital. Clean healthcare laundry plays a vital role in affecting the psychological perception and satisfaction of healthcare staff, patient and public. Laundry in healthcare include bed sheets, gowns, doctors clothing, blankets, towels, patient apparel, etc. and this linen contamination can be a source of HAIs and pose a risk of disease transmission to the users. Therefore, incorporation of infection control measures are of utmost importance to minimize the contribution of contaminated laundry to the incidence of HAIs. Henceforth, present study was conducted with the objectives to evaluate infection control measures being practiced in laundry in one of the multispecialty tertiary care hospital of North India to provide the clean linen and minimize the infections to patients as well as to healthcare

staff. In pre-wash phase, all linen collected in the different hospital areas is assumed to be contaminated; hence, standard precautions are taken to handle the linen and to minimize the microbial contamination to environment during collection and transportation. There are designated spaces in the wards to keep the soiled linen. In washing phase, there is separate entry for receiving and separate trolleys for carrying linen in the laundry. Established set patterns and pre-fixed time cycle for each step is followed in each wash process i.e. pre-wash, wash, rinse and final rinsing. Also, standards are fixed for water level/usage for each cycle, temperature (for wash cycle, rinse cycle, dryer time and ironing time), bleach usage and chemical usage for each step in the wash process. Ironing machine/bench press machines used for ironing the linen is maintained so as to adequately iron, dry and fold the linen. In post wash, while packaging and storing the linen in laundry, loading on the trucks, shifting

in the linen bank and at user end, adequate care is done to prevent soiling or contamination. To conclude, infection control practices in laundry services are one of the essential requirements to minimize the hospital acquired infections and provide the better care and safety to patients as well as to healthcare providers.

Kalpy Julien Coulibaly is a Physician Specialist in Microbiology and holds a PhD in Human and Tropical Biology. He is the Head of the Environment and Health

Department of the Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire. He is specialist in diseases that can be transmitted to humans via the aquatic ecosystem.

Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), the causative agent of Buruli Ulcer (BU), skin disease, is considered to be an environmental pathogen. The pathogenic virulence of Mycobacterium ulcerans is being linked to the expression of toxin called mycolactone. Genetic analyses have shown the high diversity with Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTR) and Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units (MIRU) in M. ulcerans and in Mycolactone Producing Mycobacteria (MPMs). The purpose of this study is the molecular characterization of potentially pathogenic environmental mycobacteria strain, apart from the M.ulcerans, from aquatic environments in Côte d’Ivoire. A total of 473 samples were collected comprising of 251 water and 222 sediment based on sampling sites. The sediments were the most contaminated by mycobacteria with 60% as against 43.3% in water samples from the hyperendemic areas. In hypoendemic areas, water was the most contaminated with 53.57% against 43.24% in sediment. Microscopy by Ziehl-Neelsen-staining and PCR diagnostics using IS2404 and ketoreductase (KR) were performed on strains. 20% fast growing isolated mycobacteria species including Mycobacterium mucogenicum, Mycobacterium peregrinum and Mycobacterium sp. was found carrying the IS2404 gene previously found in Mycobacterium ulcerans. 9.23% of strains carry the ketoreductase genes, one of the synthesis of mycolactone enzymes. In terms of genetic analysis using the

MIRU/VNTR, the MIRU1 was the most amplified sequence and LOCUS 6 less amplified; no known profile have been identified in this study. This study is the first step taken in order to understand different skin infections encountered in Côte d’Ivoire.

 Ana Rita de Toledo Piza is the CEO/Scientific Director of Limace Biotecnologia, the first Brazilian company to develop pharmaceuticals and cosmetics from

natural molluscan products. She has completed her PhD in Biotechnology from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo and Master in

Sciences by the Coordination of Disease Control (SES/SP). She has experience in the field of macromolecule chemistry and bioprospecting active compounds from

molluscs. She also works in the areas of zoology, microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology, virology and molecular phylogeny.

 Zika virus fever is a disease caused by a virus of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. Patients may present maculopapular rash, pruritus, low or absence of fever, headache, non-pruritic and non-purulent conjunctival hyperemia, pain and edema in the wrists and ankles. Terrestrial gastropods secrete mucus from the body surface, when they move, to protect the body against mechanical injury, desiccation or contact with harmful substances.Mollusks mucus has been studied as a source of new natural compounds with biological properties, including their antiviral

capacity. Studies involving Phyllocaulis boraceiensis mucus have elucidated the presence of substances capable of inhibiting the growth of Measles, Influenza, Rubella and Herpes viruses. These molecules act in the disintegration of the viral envelope factor that confers them the antiviral activity. Following this premise, it was determined that these molecules also act to disintegrate the viral envelope of Zika virus, since all viruses have a similar type of viral envelope. The objective of this study is to optimize

the process of obtaining these molecules and others potentially active fractions present in the mucus of P. boraceiensis. Antiviral action was determined “in vitro” using Vero cells infected with Zika virus and analyzed by RT-PCR. Chromatographic and spectrometric processes were proceeded to obtain the molecules in order to be tested.

 Ana Rita de Toledo Piza is the CEO/Scientific Director of Limace Biotecnologia, the first Brazilian company to develop pharmaceuticals and cosmetics from

natural molluscan products. She has completed her PhD in Biotechnology from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo and Master in

Sciences by the Coordination of Disease Control (SES/SP). She has experience in the field of macromolecule chemistry and bioprospecting active compounds from

molluscs. She also works in the areas of zoology, microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology, virology and molecular phylogeny.

 Zika virus fever is a disease caused by a virus of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. Patients may present maculopapular rash, pruritus, low or absence of fever, headache, non-pruritic and non-purulent conjunctival hyperemia, pain and edema in the wrists and ankles. Terrestrial gastropods secrete mucus from the body surface, when they move, to protect the body against mechanical injury, desiccation or contact with harmful substances.Mollusks mucus has been studied as a source of new natural compounds with biological properties, including their antiviral

capacity. Studies involving Phyllocaulis boraceiensis mucus have elucidated the presence of substances capable of inhibiting the growth of Measles, Influenza, Rubella and Herpes viruses. These molecules act in the disintegration of the viral envelope factor that confers them the antiviral activity. Following this premise, it was determined that these molecules also act to disintegrate the viral envelope of Zika virus, since all viruses have a similar type of viral envelope. The objective of this study is to optimize

the process of obtaining these molecules and others potentially active fractions present in the mucus of P. boraceiensis. Antiviral action was determined “in vitro” using Vero cells infected with Zika virus and analyzed by RT-PCR. Chromatographic and spectrometric processes were proceeded to obtain the molecules in order to be tested.

The pollution of water sources is one of the major challenges municipalities face worldwide. The industrial wastewater discharged into the municipal sewers often contains toxic substances. Electroplating industries contribute to the pollution of water sources with cyanide, cyanide metal complexes and heavy metals used in metal plating processes. This study aimed to isolate and identify cyanide tolerant bacteria from wastewater discharged from an electroplating plant in the Western Cape,South Africa which was suspected to be disposing its potentially hazardous wastewater into the municipal sewers. Bacteria were isolated from the biofilm and wastewater collected from the electroplating plant. Pure colonies were cultured on nutrient agar supplemented with 400 mg/L cyanide to test for tolerance. The most tolerant isolates (n = 4) were then cultured in nutrient broth supplemented with different concentrations of cyanide (0–200 mg/L) to study their growth patterns. The four isolates

where further characterized by employing the Gram and endospore staining methods. Biochemical tests, selective media and an automated method using the VITEK 2 Compact (Biomerieux) were used to confirm the identity of the isolates. Genomic DNA was extracted and was subsequently used as a template for Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the 16S rRNA gene. The amplified PCR product was purified and used as template for sequence analysis. Two of the isolates were identified as Pseudomonas species and the other two as Bacillus species. The four methods used (biochemical testing, selective media, VITEK 2 compact and sequence analysis) could confirm 100% identity up to the genus level even though a few discrepancies in

identifying the species existed. The 16S rRNA gene was useful in identifying the genus of the unknown bacteria isolated from the wastewater. Further studies are however needed to study more genes to differentiate the species. The most tolerant isolates would in the future be tested for cyanide degradation and possible candidates for bioremediation of cyanide and metal cyanide

complexes from the effluent before discharging into the municipal sewer.