SSM Newsletter December 2017

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December 2017-The Newsletter of the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology-Issue 10

Greetings from the President SSM

Photo snippets from SSM conference 2017

Conference Chairman

Conference venue

Keynote speakers

Conference in

progress

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Contents

President’s greetings p 3

SSM Activities – May to December 2017 p 4-7

National

Annual Conference 27th October 2017

Antimicrobial Resistance awareness

programme

Virology day

Writing workshop

Jaffna Chapter p 8-9 National Research Conference and Exhibition on

Indigenous Medicine: January, 2017

Popular Lectures

Newspaper articles

Creation of webpage

Kandy Chapter p 9-10 Bi-monthly meetings of the Kandy chapter

Training workshop on bacterial gene sequencing

Melioidosis Conference p 10

SLJID October 2017 p 11

Programmes scheduled for 2018 p 12

Annual subscription for 2017/2018 p 12

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Greetings from the President SSM

Dear members of the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology

Greetings from the Newsletter team, comprising at present of Dr Anu Dissanayake, Amindika Withanage, Joshua Tolulope, Samanthika Jagoda, Thayalini Thileeban and myself! We decided to issue a biannual newsletter this year to try and inform the membership of the various activities of SSM.

The Annual conference of SSM is our main event and a brief report of the conference is included in this newsletter. Our membership has grown to 299 at the last count and the SSM gmail continues to inform the membership of various activities of the Society. Please do send us information of conferences, workshops, lectures etc which may interest our members and we will immediately circulate through the gmail group.

We have two additions to our facebook activities. We have initiated an AMR facebook page to engage in antimicrobial resistance awareness to the general public. Please visit this site and connect our family and friends to this site. We have also started a Facebook site for the Jaffna chapter which is linked to our main website (www.ssmlk.lk). All these allow us to inform, discuss and debate topics of interest. They also help us by letting us know what is being done in the field of microbiology in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. However, for us to succeed in these interactions, we need participation of our members! We need you to access the SSM Facebook site and the website. We need your constructive criticisms and comments. We can also publish your views, comments and short articles of interest. An increasing level of participation by our members would be very welcome.

We continue to encourage our members to join in the various activities of SSM. If you have 8 members working/living in any geographical area, you could start an SSM chapter and help encourage the dissemination of information about microbes in your area. Please contact me at vasanthithevanesam@yahoo.com if you are interested in initiating a Chapter or want to know about what a chapter does. The report of the Jaffna Chapter in this newsletter will give you some idea of the potential of working locally to benefit your community.

Let me wish all members an active and productive year ahead, as we work together to encourage and support each other in promoting the discipline of microbiology in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Vasanthi Thevanesam

President SSM

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6th Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of

the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology 2017

The Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SSM) was established 7

years ago with the aim of promoting an integrated

multidisciplinary approach towards the study of basic and

applied microbiology. Since its inception the Society has been

organizing its annual conference to

disseminate knowledge and skills pertaining to microbiology within Sri Lanka publish journals and books and convene meetings,

workshops and colloquia promote basic and applied research in Microbiology and

related areas promote collaboration among members in all areas

pertaining to microbiology

The 6th Annual Conference of SSM was held on 27th of October 2017 at the Oak Ray Regency, Kandy from 9am–

5pm under the leadership of Prof F. Noordeen and her Organizing Committee. SSM 2017 had over 80 participants

from a wide range of disciplines, including medical, veterinary and dental microbiology, parasitology, basic

sciences, epidemiology and community medicine, entomology and traditional medicine.

Dr Kalana Maduwage from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya and Prof Suneth Agampodi from the

Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka delivered key note addresses on snake

bites and aspects of leptospirosis respectively. Twenty six abstracts were accepted for inclusion in the Proceedings

of the 6th Annual Conference with 16 oral presentations and 10 posters. Both oral presentations and posters were

very interactive and informative. The posters were judged and certificates of commendation given to the first,

second and third. This was done to increase the exposure to posters as we had noticed that though much attention

was given to oral presentations, posters were rarely visited by conference participants

SSM 2018 awarded two Scientific Publication Awards for 2 abstracts of 2016 that were published in SCI journals

in the following year. SSM hopes the Scientific Publication Awards would motivate young researchers to publish

in SCI journals.

Daulagala et al Exposure rate of VZV among women attending antenatal care clinic in Sri Lanka - a cross

sectional study BMC Infectious Diseases Sept 2017 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-017-2725-x (IF = 2.9)

Gamage et al Serological evidence of hantavirus infection in Girandurukotte, an area endemic for chronic

kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka International Journal of Infectious Diseases April

2017 57:77–78 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2017.02.004 (IF = 2.5)

SSM thank the sponsors (Avon Pharmo Chem Pvt Ltd, Microtech Biologicals Pvt Ltd

and SGS pvt Ltd) for their contributions for its 6th Annual Conference. We also thank

the Sri Lankan Scientist team who provided media cover for a nationwide

dissemination of scientific knowledge shared in SSM 2018. As in the last 2 SSM Annual

conferences, SSM 2017 also had the “Meeting the Experts Session” with afternoon

tea.

Prof Faseeha Noordeen (Chairman, Conference Organizing Committee)

For your diary The 7th Annual Conference will be held on Friday 26th October 2018.

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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) awareness programme

The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) interest group of SSM was started with the aim of creating public awareness on AMR. Those who volunteered for the group met together to brainstorm how we could create public awareness on the critical issue of antibiotic resistance. After several group meetings, our strategy was mapped out.

We selected school children as our first target group and decided to download three of six posters prepared by the world health organization (WHO) targeting the general public. We then translated and printed these three posters into Sinhala and Tamil with permission of WHO. Our aim was to distribute these posters among schools, so that students will get an overall understanding of what AMR is and what the role of the community is, on preventing the emergence and spread of resistance.

As a starter for this programme, a workshop was conducted on 25th November (2017) at the Main Hall of the Junior School of Trinity College with the participation of members of Rotaract club of Kandy. The young Rotaracters present were all recent past pupils from schools in the Kandy

district. A strategy was planned to distribute the posters in the Kandy district with the help of those who participated. Prof Thevanesam gave a brief talk on AMR which was followed by a group activity. The group activity garnered active

participation and interesting responses from the participants.

We hope that this programme can be repeated in other parts of the country. Please get in touch with me or Prof Thevanesam if you are able to participate in the distribution of posters in your locality. The posters are available in all 3 languages and we expect to distribute them in the language of choice by the school. Figures 1-3 show the posters in the 3 languages and Fig 4 shows the discussion groups at the workshop.

We are indebted to a SSM member who provided the funds to print the posters. Our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Pavithra Daulagala for her initiative and drive in organizing this programme which was our first AMR programme. Thank you!

Members of the AMR group who assisted in strategizing for this programme are Veranja Liyanapathirana, Madhumanee Abeywardena and Vasanthi Thevanesam.

Veranja Liyanapathirana Posters are available on https://www.facebook.com/Antimicrobial-Resistance-Public-Awareness-Group-by-SSM-1710853839206746/ for anyone who would like to distribute them. Please visit this site.

Figures 1-3

Figure 4

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.“Virology day’

SSM organized a “Virology Day’ on 27th May 2017 partnered by the National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka. Prof JSM Peiris, Tam Wah-Ching Professorship, Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, University of Hong Kong served as a resource person at this meeting. Viruses cause much ill health in the human population and are important contributors to disease in both domestic as well as livestock of economic importance as well as being a major cause of upheaval in the world of agriculture, resulting in large scale economic losses. SSM invited virologists and other scientists working with viruses to a meeting where current work in any/all of these areas was shared and discussions held on both limitations and areas which needed expansion. Researchers and others shared what resources are currently available in their institutions. This meeting was directed towards fulfilling the vision of the Society - To promote an integrated multidisciplinary approach towards the study of basic and applied microbiology’ – by creating a ‘space’ where virologists met, discussed, and explored areas of current interest and needs in the field of virology. Brief presentations were made on ‘Viral diagnostics in clinical medicine’ (Dr Sunethra Gunasena, Virologist, Medical Research Institute, Colombo), ‘Research in virology’ (Prof. Sunil Chandra, Senior Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Kelaniya), ‘Veterinary virology and viral infections in animals’ (Dr Anil W Kalupahana, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya), ‘Plant virology and viral infections in plants’ (Prof. DMD Costa, Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) and ‘The need for virology in developing countries’ (Prof. JSM Peiris) The need for affordable viral diagnostics in the Sri Lankan context, including key issues in the development of such diagnostics and/or import of low priced diagnostics and the need for optimization/validation of in-house diagnostic tests, requirement for quality assurance of products and need for accreditation of laboratories in both the State and private sectors were discussed at length. All participants were of the view that sharing information/ materials/ reagents/ techniques etc. is vital to progress in this area. The importance of non-medical scientists in academic/research centres was emphasized. Encouraging medical graduates in a research career through working towards a research degree (PhD) was also deemed to be an important step in improving research capabilities in virology in Sri Lanka. Other important aspects discussed were the importance of a one-health approach and the need to improve capacity for dealing with emergency situations in human, veterinary and agricultural fields to minimize damage caused by emerging and re-emerging viral infections in all areas.

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The participants agreed on several steps to be taken to assist cross sectoral and intro sectoral communication among those working in the field of virology. Amongst these was the formation of a Google group (Google Virology group) – which would assist communication including sharing of information among local virologists, the creation of a database on reported viral pathogens in Medical/ Veterinary / Agriculture sectors in Sri Lanka, the creation of a database on virological studies (past and current) in different groups and the creation of a webpage with virology laboratory tests available in Sri Lankan laboratories (State and private sector)

We need the support of SSM members to achieve these ambitious goals. Anyone interested in joining the google group for virology please contact me on vasanthithevanesam@yahoo.com or send a mail to ssm.srilanka@gmail.com

SSM thanks NSF, Sri Lanka for supporting us at this meeting by providing the use of the auditorium and multimedia facilities as well as helping with the logistics and refreshments. Our thanks also to Dr. Thusitha Karunarathna, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University Of Peradeniya who served as Secretary to the Workshop. Vasanthi Thevanesam

Writing Workshops

SSM has decided to conduct writing workshops for those interested in improving their scientific writing skills. We have already conducted a half day workshop for the 2016 MSc in Medical Microbiology students on ‘Preparation of a project proposal’ for their dissertation. This will be followed up by a second workshop to allow those who participated to present their project proposals, thereby giving them an opportunity to improve and expand both their writing and their presentation skills.

There has been interest expressed in conducting workshops on ‘how to write a paper for publication’, ‘Key issues in writing a ‘discussion’ in a scientific paper or dissertation’, and ‘Case report writing’.

We hope to hold at least 4 workshops in 2018 and members are encouraged to contact SSM through

ssm.srilanka@gmail.com should they want to organize such a workshop. All workshops will be advertised through SSM channels (Google group, facebook and website).

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SSM- Jaffna chapter

The SSM-Jaffna Chapter carried out many activities with the active participation of its members

First National Research Conference and Exhibition on Indigenous Medicine: January, 2017

Members of the Jaffna Chapter actively participated in this Exhibition, organized by the Siddha Medicine Unit jointly with the Provincial Department of Indigenous Medicine. Some notable events were:

the use of an antagonistic fungus, Trichodermaviridae for control of nematodes and soil borne fungal diseases.

The cultivation of edible oyster mushroom was explained to the school children/adults visiting the exhibition.

Different stages of growth of edible mushroom, bedding, spawn preparation and postharvest preservation were explained using live specimens.

Popular Lectures

The following seminars were organized by the SSM-JC jointly with the Faculty of Graduate studies, University of Jaffna

11.8.2017 - “Fever (Suram) in Siddha Medicine” by Dr.(Mrs) Vidhya Milano Prasad, Siddha Medical Officer, District Siddha Hospital, Kilinochchi.

Dr(Mrs)Vidhya Milano Prasad pointed out that fever is treated with the Nilavembu kudineer in Siddha hospitals of the Northern Province. This kudineer consist of many plants including Mollugo cerviana. All the dry parts are packed in a polythene bags and given to patients suffering from fevers. The plant parts were purchased in the Ayurvedic pharmacy.

26.11.2017 : Two lectures

“Ethnobotany and Morphological Identification of Medicinal plant, Mollugocerviana (l.) ser., and its Existence in the Northern Province” by Miss.Thenuvathany Balachandran, Department of Agriculture Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna

“Management of root rot caused by Curvularia spp. on Ludwigia repens by using bio-control agents” by Miss Tharmili Yogenthiran, Department of Agriculture Biology, Faculty of Agriculture University of Jaffna

Articles in local news paper “Valampuri” and in the website www.nanilam.com

Articles were written in the local newspaper to create awareness on current topics of interest. These articles were written in Tamil for the local population, including students.

1. வீட்டுத்த ோட்டமும்டடங்குநுளம்புகட்டுப்போடும்! (Control of Dengue mosquito and the home garden !)http://www.nanilam.com/?p=12090

2. இயற்ககடயன்னும்டபோக்கிஷம்! (Nature as a gift) http://www.nanilam.com/?p=12070

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Preparation of Glossary for A/L Biology Teachers SSM-JC is actively involved to prepare a glossary with English and Tamil words for the use of AL teachers and students as concern was expressed on accuracy of translation of technical terms used in teaching and examinations. This glossary currently contains 1000 words. SSM hopes to send this glossary to evaluators conversant in Siddha Medicine as well as Science background prior to submission to the relevant authorities.

Webpage for SSM-JC A webpage is under creation for SSM JC and it will be launched at the SSM webpage very soon.

Future Plans of the Jaffna chapter 1. Community awareness programme on Dengue has been scheduled in December 2017. 2. Community awareness programme on the use of antibiotics will begin in early 2018 3. Workshop on “Antimicrobial activity of natural products” will be conducted in September

2018.

SSM- Kandy chapter

Bi-monthly meetings of the Kandy chapter

The Kandy chapter of SSM held the bi-monthly meeting at the Community

Medicine room, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya on 13th

November 2017. This was the fourth meeting of the SSM Kandy chapter

conducted in the year 2017.

At the outset of the meeting, Professor Faseeha Noordeen from the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya delivered a lecturer on “Novel therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus infection”. Based on

her post graduate research findings, she describes the potential of using nucleic acid polymers to control viral infections.

In addition, members also discussed the outreach activities and regular programs that could be done in 2018. Professor Faseeha Noordeen suggested requesting postgraduate students to present their research so that they could improve their presentation skills and obtain constructive comments from more experienced researchers in SSM.

Training workshop on bacterial gene sequencing

The Kandy chapter is organizing a training workshop on bacterial gene sequencing. The workshop will be held on 26-27th January

SSM Training Workshop on DNA sequencing

Introduction to DNA sequencing

Brief overview of DNA and gene structure

Practical Session I

PCR – amplifying the fragment that will subsequently be sequenced

Purification of PCR product Assess purified PCR product

Practical Session II

Detailed analysis of sequence Sequencing errors and base qualities Sequence analysis using different tools BLAST services

Practical session III

Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST)

e-Burst Practical Session IV

Alignments of sequences Pylogenetic trees Protein sequence and structure

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2018 at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. The aim of the workshop is to provide basic knowledge and hands on experience on gene sequencing to early career researchers and research students. The maximum number of participants to the workshop is 20 and selection will be on a first come first served basis. Resource persons for this workshop will be members of the Kandy Chapter: Professor Faseeha Noordeen, Dr. Susuji Wickramasinghe, Dr. Veranja Liyanapathirana, Dr. Chandika Gamge, Dr. D. R. A. Dissanayake and Dr. Saanthika Jagoda.

2nd South Asian Melioidosis Congress

The 2nd South Asian Melioidosis Congress was held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel on 29th and

30th August. As its name implies, this was the second Congress on melioidosis to be held in this

region, involving countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan, to

increase awareness about melioidosis. This conference

was organized through the Sri Lanka College of

Microbiologists (SLCM). The Sri Lankan Society for

Microbiology contributed to this conference by reviewing

the abstracts and editing the Abstract book. Professor

Thevanesam was Patron of the Conference and the Chief

Organizer was Dr Enoka Corea – President of SLCM and a

Council member of SSM.

Melioidosis is a neglected tropical disease that is frequently mis-or under-diagnosed in the

region. Hence, the theme of the conference, “Unearthing a subterranean infection”. Revealing

the hidden burden of infection requires the co-operation of a network of microbiologists,

epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, and public health personnel. The 2nd South Asian

Melioidosis Congress aimed to allow researchers and clinical personnel to meet and learn from

global experts on the disease and develop collaborations within and between countries in the

region and groups overseas with the ultimate goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality of this

potentially fatal infection.

Twenty one lectures on several aspects of melioidosis were delivered by both overseas and local

experts and twenty four e-posters were presented.

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Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases (ISSN 2012-8169 (Print) 2448-9654

(Online) is the official journal of the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SSM), a

multi-disciplinary association of those with an interest in microbiology. Published

biannually at present, the journal provides a peer-reviewed medium for

communication of findings and perspectives among the professional disciplines

involved in the specialist field of Infectious Diseases. Its purpose is to expand

knowledge of infectious diseases in order to prevent infection-related illness. The

journal’s information available at http://sljid.sljol.info/. Current Issue is Volume 7-

Issue 2 – 2017

Table of Contents- Volume 7 - Issue 2- 2017

Editorial

Vasanthi Thevanesam 66

Review article Leptospirosis in Sri Lanka J. N. Warnasekara, S. Agampodi 67-75 Research Articles The first documentation of the immune response to cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka. D. Atapattu , D. Iddawela, S. Adikari, S. Wickramasinghe, L. Bandara, S. Samaraweera

76-84

Utility of a modified silver staining technique for detection of Leptospira 85-91 C. P. Gunasekara , M. H. F. Sumaiha, M. K. S. Damayanthi, M. M. Weerasekera, S. S. N. Fernando

Antibiotic sensitivity pattern for non-beta lactam antibiotics and carbapenems in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing uropathogens versus non-ESBL producing uropathogens W. R. P. L. I. Wijesooriya , Y. B. Herath, R. A. I. Sugandhi, A. Weerawardhana, D. S. Ediriweera

92-99

Knowledge among nursing students of blood borne viruses and practices to prevent transmission Arunima Sharma, Ashima Sharma, Ashok Sharma

100-105

Short Reports An outbreak investigation of bacteraemia due to Burkholderia cepacia complex at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka S. Vathshalan , W. P. H. Abeydeera, W. P. D. P. Perera, N. Liyanage, T. S. K. R. D. Caldera, C. G. U. A. Patabendige

106-110

Case Reports "Coma vigil a rare neuropsychiatric complication of a pan sensitive Salmonella infection" 111-115 U. Ratnayake , T. Kumanan, G. Selvaratnam

Melioidosis presenting as parotid abscess in children: two consecutive cases K. K. M. K. Premaratne , G. K. D. Karunaratne, R. Dias, A. K. Lamahewage, M. Samarasinghe, E. Corea, R. M. T. M. Gunawardena

116-122

Burkholderia cepacia; an unusual cause of multiple splenic abscesses : A case report M. N. Jayawardena , N. S. Chandrasiri, S. Wijekoon, P. Madanayake, E. Corea, D. D. Ranasinghe, N. D. G. Lamahewage

123-126

Madurella grisea: a case report on an uncommon cause for mycetoma M. N. Jayawardena , N. N. T. M. Wickremasinghe, P. I. Jayasekera

127-130

Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases

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2018

Scheduled Programmes

Annual conference

October 2018

Writing workshops

Distribution of AMR

posters

Dengue awareness

Annual subscription for 2017/2018

Reminder

Members are reminded to pay their annual subscription of 1000/- for 2017 if not already paid.

Chapter president/secretaries, Council and other active members are encouraged to

collect the renewal subscription from fellow members in their workplaces.

Members can deposit the money in the SSM NTB account (individually or as a group) and

send a scanned copy of the deposit slip (with a list of contributors if a group) to Dr

Wickremasinghe (Asst Treasurer) through ssm.srilanka@gmail.com so that he can issue

receipts and deposit the collected money.

Members could pay the subscription directly to Dr Wickremasinghe (or myself) by cash

or cheque – please obtain a receipt when payment is made. Cheques should be

addressed to ‘Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology’.