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Created Nov 2001-2002.
Updated
© 2001-2004 UTHSCSA. All rights reserved.
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MICROBIOLOGY
A continuing education audioconference series designed for Microbiologists: Parasitologists, Mycologists, Bacteriologists, and Virologists
First Wednesday of Each Month
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Central Standard Time
May 7, 2008 - April 1, 2009
12 contact hours approved for PACE credit through ASCLS
Distance Education Specialist: Emma Carreon, MA - carreoner@uthscsa.edu
PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
May 7, 2008 – “Why are Most of Newly Emerging Infectious Diseases Caused by RNA Viruses?”
Nancy McQueen, PhD, Professor of Microbiology, Associate Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, CA
This teleconference will cover the reasons why many of the newly emerging infectious disease are caused by RNA viruses and will include a discussion of the biology. Pathogenesis, treatment, and threats of several of those viruses including Avian Influenza Virus, SARS virus, HIV Ebola, and Sin Nombre Hantavirus.
June 4, 2008 – “Cellular Recognition of Viral Infections”
Karen Mossman, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Dr. Mossman will describe the various mechanisms used by cells to recognize viral infection. Upon binding and entry into host cells, viruses trigger the induction of the innate immune cytokine, type I interferon, in an attempt to limit virus replication and spread surrounding cells. Cellular recognition of common viral motifs, such as glycoproteins, single stranded RNA, double stranded RNA and CpG containing DNA triggers activation of distinct, yet overlapping, pathways that culminate in the induction of several transcription factors, including nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) and interferon, which subsequently induces interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in infected and uninfected surrounding cells. The concerted action of ISGs is to block viral infection. Recent evidence points to a novel pathway in which subset of ISGs can be induced, in the absence of interferon production, following entry of enveloped virus particles. This latter pathway is dependent on IRF3. The importance of these pathways along with general examples of how viruses strive to circumvent them will be discussed.
July 2, 2008 – “Oncolytic Viruses and the Host Immune System: Challenges and Opportunities for Cancer Therapy”
Kelley Parato, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Ottawa Health Research Institute Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa, Ontario
This teleconference will provide an overview of the field of oncolytic virus research, an emerging novel strategy for cancer therapy. This course will address basic science behind the modes of tumor-selective virus replication, the mechanism of action of oncolytic viruses in vivo, and a synopsis of recent human phase I/II clinical trial results with a variety of oncolytic virus candidates. In addition, the topic of the interplay between the host immune system, the tumor microenvironment, and therapeutic viral vectors will be a major focus, including a thorough discussion of modes of evading host immunity by therapeutic viruses, and the initiation of anti-tumor immunity during oncolytic virotherapy.
August 6, 2008 – “Scientific Serendipity: From Tumor-Targeted Salmonella to Outer Membrane Barrier Function”
Sean Murray, PhD, Biology Department, California State University, Northridge, CA
Tumor-target Salmonella have been engineered to accumulate in tumors, and not normal tissues, where they inhibit tumor growth. Successful treatment is dependent on (1) the Salmonella pathogenicity island-2 (SI-2) type III- secretion system and (2) a mutated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that does not trigger septic shock. The mutant LPS induces strong growth defects in Salmonella, which can be attenuated by compensatory mutation that arise at high frequency. Different compensatory mutations will be discussed including mechanism of one of these mutations in improving outer membrane barrier function.
September 3, 2008 – “The Value and Conundrums in 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Microbial Identification”
Jill E. Clarridge, III, PhD, D(ABMM), Professor, Laboratory Medicine, Deputy Director, UW Clinical Microbiology, Fellowship Program, Chief, Microbiology, Serology and Molecular Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
This teleconference will review microbiology identification based on genotypic methods such as the rRNA gene sequence is clearly more accurate than those based on phenotype or morphology. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis can better identify poorly described, rarely isolated or phenotypically aberrant strains, can be routinely used for identification of mycobacteria and can lead to the recognition of novel pathogens and non-cultured bacteria. Conundrums remain in that all databases are not accurate, the consensus quantitative definition of species varies with the genus proliferation of species names raises communication difficulties and microheterogeneity in 16S rRNA gene sequence within a species is common. Explanation of the methodology and examples of the importance to sequencing to clinical practice will be given.
October 1, 2008 – “Update on the Laboratory Diagnosis of Clostridium Difficile”
Peter H. Gilligan, PhD, Director, Clinical Microbiology-Immunology Laboratories and Phlebotomy Services, University of North Carolina Hospitals; Chapel Hill, NC
This teleconference will review the most recent information on the laboratory diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). The main focus of the teleconference will be to analyze new testing algorithms which use GDH antigen detection as a screening test. These second goal of the teleconference will be to discuss the potential use of PCR for the detection of CDAD.
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November 5, 2008 – “Influenza Virus Vaccines”
Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Professor, Department of Microbiology, Fischberg Chair and Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Co-Director, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
This teleconference will focus on various areas of influenza virus vaccine research. Dr. Garcia-Sastre will discuss why vaccination is important for the control of influenza. Strengths and weakness of current influenza virus vaccines will also be elaborated on in detail. Finally, Dr. Garcia-Sastre will discuss novel influenza virus vaccination approaches.
December 3, 2008 – “Coping with Antimicrobial Resistance Challenges – Multi-drug Resistant Bacteria”
Janet Hindler, MCLS, MT(ASCP), Senior Specialist, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
The clinical microbiology laboratory plays a significant role in combating emerging antimicrobial resistance. Timely identification of etiological agents contributing to a patient’s infection and detection of resistance among these agents is essential for optimal patient management and also for infection control purposes. Deciding what to do when multi-drug resistant bacteria are encountered poses an added challenge. This teleconference will highlight some of the current problems in detecting and reporting antimicrobial resistance and highlight safeguards that can be used to minimize errors in testing and reporting.
January 7, 2007 - “An Update - Identification of Common Mould Pathogens”
Deanna A. Sutton, PhD, MT, SM(ASCP), RM, SM(NRM), Professor, Research, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
This teleconference will provide participants with an update on the most common filamentous fungi inciting human disease. It will encompass both dimorphic, systemic pathogens, as well as opportunistic organisms seen in debiliatated/ immunocompromised hosts. Predisposing factors for acquisition, usual anatomic sites of recovery, types of mycoses, and clinical significance, as well as cultural characteristics, identification, and therapy, will be discussed. This teleconference is directed to technologists new to the field of medical mycology.
February 4, 2009 – “Emerging Beta-lactamase Threats in Gram Negative Bacilli”
James Lewis, PharmD, Infectious Disease Pharmacy Program Manager, Clinical Assistant
Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
Gram negatives continue to develop a variety of new beta-lactamases at an alarming rate. These new enzymes often confer protection from a broad array of beta-lactams and recently have expanded to include enzymes that hydrolyze virtually all currently available beta-lactams. This program will discuss recent findings pertaining to the emergence of these enzymes, their epidemiology, as well as therapeutic options for these challenging pathogens.
March 4, 2009 – “Update on the Diagnosis of Complicated and Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections”
Carol Spiegel, PhD, D(ABMM), F(AAM), Director, Clinical Microbiology, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are very common: 60% of women have at least one episode of uncomplicated UTI in their lifetime. UTI are termed complicated when they occur in the presence of diabetes mellitus, urinary stones, pregnancy, male gender, extremes of age, an indwelling catheter, other underlying conditions, and hospitalization. UTI are, in fact, the most common type of nosocomially acquired infections. In this presentation I will review the pathogenesis of UTI, methods of urine collection, common and less common pathogens, interpretation of colony counts, the significance of asymptomatic bacteria, and the significance of mixed infections.
April 1, 2009 – “An Update on HPV Diagnosis and Laboratory Assays”
Susan M. Novak-Weekley, PhD, Director, Microbiology, SCPMG Regional Reference Laboratories, North Hollywood, CA
This teleconference will cover the current state of HPV diagnostics in the clinical microbiology laboratory. The discussion will surround available technology for the laboratory, assay performance, instrument throughput and commercial availability. This teleconference will also cover any updates from ACOG on the algorithms associated with HPV testing of women in the health care setting.
Registration Information
Tuition: Tuition is $125 per session for five participants. Each additional person over five is $20. Tuition for the entire series (all twelve sessions) is $1295 for five participants - a savings of $205! Each additional person over five is $180 for the entire series. Your registration entitles you to receive course materials, certificates of credit for each participant, and live interaction with subject matter experts and colleagues across North America.
Guarantee: If for any reason your site is unable to participate in a program for which you registered, TNT will send you a complimentary audio CD of the program.
Cancellations: TNT reserves the right to cancel individual sessions or a series due to low registration. You may cancel your registration 3 weeks prior to a session for a full refund. Cancellations received after program materials are mailed may receive a 50% refund or apply a 50% credit toward another program, provided the materials are returned to TNT.
Note: Walk-in registrations receive credit for a fee of $10 per person. If you live or work near the San Antonio Medical Center area, you may participate in the TNT classroom. For registrations made less than two weeks prior to session date, please ask about special handling rates to ensure receipt of materials. Participation outside the U.S. Postal System, please add $10 to the registration fee to cover additional material mailing costs.
It's Easy to Participate
Register by:
Phone: 1-800-9828-TNT, in San Antonio: (210) 567-2700
Fax: (210) 567-2706
Mail: Teleconference Network of Texas-UTHSCSA
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78284-7978
Registration Form - MICROBIOLOGY
(Please print and fax/mail to the Teleconference Network of Texas)
____ Please make reservations for five of us for the session(s) checked below. We understand the tuition is $125 per session. Each additional person pays $20 to join us. This entitles us to program materials, certificates of credit, and authorization to be "on-line" with colleagues and subject matter experts across North America. Please register us for ____ additional people (over five).
____ Please make reservations for five of us for all 12 sessions for $1295. Each additional person (over five) pays only $180. Program materials, certificates of credit, and access to leading experts and practitioners are also included. Payment is not required when you register. Call 1-800-982-8868 for payment options. Please register us for ____ additional people (over five).
____ 05/07/08 "Why are Most of Newly Emerging Infectious..."
____ 06/04/08 "Cellular Recognition of Viral Infections"
____ 07/02/08 "Oncolytic Viruses and the Host Immune System..."
____ 08/06/08 "Scientific Serendipity: From Tumor-Targeted..."
____ 09/03/08 "The Value and Conundrums in 16S rRNA..."
____ 10/01/08 "Update on the Laboratory Diagnosis of Clostridium..."
____ 11/05/08 "Influenza Virus Vaccines"
____ 12/03/08 "Coping with Antimicrobial Resistance Challenges..."
____ 01/07/09 "An Update - Identification of Common Pathogens"
____ 02/04/09 "Emerging Beta-lactamase Threats in Gram..."
____ 03/04/09 "Update on the Diagnosis of Complicated..."
____ 04/01/09 "An Update on HPV Diagnosis and Lab Assays"
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Teleconference Network of Texas-UTHSCSA
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78284-7978