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NIMHANS
DEPARTMENTS
Department of
Neuromicrobiology
Academic
The department has been closely associated with teaching programme for post-graduates
in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Nursing departments of this Institute. In addition, it has
also been recognised as a department, which runs Ph.D programme. The departmental faculty also serve as
resource persons and give lectures in various National and International seminars, symposium and
conferences.
For the course details, please see [the Prospectus].
- Basic and Applied Lectures: The department is actively engaged in Teaching Programmes of other
departments such as Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Nursing. Various lectures on basics of
Microbiology and Immunology, diagnosis of infections of CNS (bacterial, fungal and mycobacteria),
acute and chronic have been delivered to these students every year during the last five years.
- Brain cutting conferences: The department has been actively participating in these fortnightly
conferences.
- Combined Mortality and Clinical Care Presentations: The department has been actively participating
in this weekly meetings held every Saturday.
- Departmental Journal Club and Seminar: This is held weekly.
Teaching classes are taken for students of B.Sc. Nursing , Diploma in Neuro Nursing, Diploma in
Psychiatric Nursing, M.Phil course in Neurosciences and Post Doctoral Fellows in Neuropathology –
Project conducted by the department and report submitted by External students.
Research
- Evaluation and analysis of immune architecture of CNS Tuberculomas
- Standardization of immunological techniques for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis
Development of immunodiagnostic test for neurocysticercosis
- Standardization of immunediagnosis of tuberculous meningitis using monoclonal
antibodies and defined antigens
- Application of polymerase chain reaction and DNA probes of mycobacterium
tuberculosis in the diagnosis of neurotuberculosis.
- A co-ordinated research program on immune diagnosis of TBM using TIA and
ELISA methods.
The department of Neuromicrobiology is mainly a service orientated para clinical department to aid in
the diagnosis and prognosis of non viral CNS infectious diseases as seen in the practice of Neurology,
Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at this institute and also serves as a referral center for Diagnosis of
CNS infections. Diagnostic work comprises 70-80% of the departmental activities.
Need based research to better, the neuro infection - diagnostic services especially
molecular diagnosis, understanding the pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology formed the basis of
research activities.
- Ph.D. Work:
- A study on molecular typing and immunological profiles Mycobacterium causing tuberculosis
meningitis with special emphasis on neurotropism, was conducted and formed the basis of the doctoral
degree in the year 2004 to Mr. M V Manjunath. This study contributed for the first time, the DNA
pattern of M tuberculosis infecting the meninges. Several unique DNA patterns were discovered which
were not present in the M tb DNA pattern library (of 23,000 strains from across the world).
Associations and relationships of M tb DNA patterns with HIV and drug susceptibility were assessed in
Tuberculous meningitis .A comparison was also done with DNA patterns of M.tb isolated from
pulmonary TB.
- A study on Molecular diagnosis of Central nervous system infections with special reference to
tuberculous meningitis was conducted and formed the basis of the doctoral degree awarded in 2007 to
Mr R Wasiulla. Several types of PCR were used to test on large numbers of CSF samples of acute and
chronic meningitis cases, mounting to more than one thousand clinical cases. The 16S rRNA semi nested
PCR protocol was associated with a sensitivity of 93.75%, 1005 and 83.33% of confirmed cases of
meningitis caused by S pneuminiae, N meningitides and H influenzae. A pneumolysin gene based PCR was
100% sensitive in diagnosis of Pneumococcal meningitis. A comparative assay of IS6110, MPB-64 and
65kDa primers based PCR on TBM CSF samples established the superiority of IS6110 based PCR. Extension
of this IS6110 base PCR to 165 culture positive TBM CSF samples anf 677 clinical TBM cases yielded a
crystal clear finding of 100% and 70% positivity respectively. Thus a in low cost house PCR assay as
compared to expensive commercial PCR kit was established to suit the needs of a developing country.
- ICMR JRF topic “Etiopathogenesis biochemical analysis and molecular characterization of
M.tuberculosis and C.neoformans in CSF of patients with chorinic meningitis” – Jyothi E.K.
- PhD Research Protocol “Etiopathogenesis biochemical analysis and molecular characterization of
M.tuberculosis and C.neoformans in CSF of patients with chorinic meningitis” – Jyothi E.K.
( Continues...)
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