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International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) Outreach Program:
Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses Course
Singapore, June 14-16, 2010
In support of its mission to enhance the scientific background and professional effectiveness of basic and applied microbiologists, the IUMS is embarking on a program of educational outreach to developing countries and their microbiologists. The Union envisions an IUMS series of courses that will be offered to groups of microbiologists that may include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and practicing professionals from developing countries within a given geographic region. These will be offered periodically in various regions and on different topics of interest and importance.
The first IUMS Regional Course was offered in Singapore during June 14-16, 2010, and served microbiologists from the surrounding Asian countries. Singapore was chosen as the site, because of its proximity to the countries of Asia. IUMS made a contribution to the subsistence of the successful applicants as far as the finances allow. It is expected that this experience will boost the capability of the attendees in their microbiologic work after they return home, and we shall endeavour to forge a network of the attendees, so they can continue to communicate with each other and the instructors by e-mail.
In total 99 practicing scientists and clinicians from 9 countries participated at the course. Thirty of them are non-local. Full board and lodging was provided to all the overseas participants at the Prince George’s Park Residences in the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus. The course was held between the 14th and 16th June 2010, at Lecture Theatre 28 at the NUS. The organization of this first Regional course was under the excellent supervision of Prof. Yuan Kun Lee.
The course was successfully concluded on the 16th June and summary of the feedback from the participants is appended at the end (Appendix 2). Overall, 38.3% of respondents graded the course Excellent, 59.6% graded Good and 1.2% graded Fair.
The course was financially supported by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the Singapore Society for Microbiology & Biotechnology (SSMB). Since the course coincided with IUMS EB meeting, IUMS covered the international travel of the faculty.
The topic of “Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses” was selected for this first IUMS Course, since this is a prevalent problem of great importance that often compromises treatment of infections in this region of the world. In addition, the exploration of mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobial agents provides an engaging platform for the education of young scientists in microbiology, epidemiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics. Furthermore, inquiry about resistance may inform the study of medical chemistry in the search for new agents to replace those that are failing as well as to develop medicinal strategies to overcome existing resistance.
Following is the outline of major topics which were covered in the Course:
PDFs of the presentations can be downloaded from here
IUMS Outreach Programme Singapore June 14-16, 2010
June 14, 2010 Monday, Venue LT28
- Antiviral Resistance
8.30am-9.30am
a. Session I:
Overview on the lifecycle of viruses
Dr Youichi Suzuki, National University of Singapore, Singapore
9.30am-10.30am
Targets for antiviral therapy
Prof Vincent Chow, National University of Singapore, Singapore
10.30am-11.00am Tea break
11.00am-12.30pm
- Session II :
Prof Yoshihiro Kawaoka, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Influenza virus replication and virulence
- Drug resistance mutations of influenza viruses
12.30pm-1.30pm Lunch
1.30pm-3.00pm
- Session III :
Prof Naoki Yamamoto, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- HIV replication and virulence
- Drug resistance mutations of HIV
3.00pm-3.30pm
- Session IV: Dual use research of concerns in Microbiology
Prof Daniel Sordelli, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
3.30pm-4.00pm Tea
June 15, 2010 Tuesday, Venue LT28
- Antibacterial Resistance
8:30am-10:30am
a. Session Ia: Origin, evolution, and mechanisms of antibacterial resistance
Prof Stephen Lerner, Wayne State University, USA
10:30am-11:00am Tea break
11:00am-12:00noon
b. Session Ib: Origin, evolution, and mechanisms of antibacterial resistance
Prof Stephen Lerner, Wayne State University, USA
12:00noon-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm-2:00pm
c. Session II: Genetics of antibiotic resistance
Prof Eliora Ron, Tel Aviv University, Israel
2:00pm-3:00pm
d. Session IIIa: Detection and measurement of resistance
Prof Eliora Ron, Tel Aviv University, Israel
3:00pm-3:30pm Tea break
3:30pm-4:30 p.m.
e. Session IIIb: Detection and measurement of resistance
Prof Eliora Ron, Tel Aviv University, Israel
4:30pm-5:30pm
f. Session IV: Clinical impact of resistance and strategies of control of antibiotic usage
Prof Stephen Lerner, Wayne State University, USA
June 16, 2010 Wednesday, Venue LT28
- Antifungal Resistance
8.30am - 9.00am
a. The fungal cell: overview of fungal pathogen lifecycles, route of infection, fungal-host
interactions
Prof Joan Bennett, Rutgers University, USA
9.00am - 9.45am
b. At risk patient population and impact of fungal diseases in public health
Prof Annamaria Tortorano, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy
9.45am - 10.30am
c. Antifungal agents currently approved for systemic use
Prof Marianna Viviani, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy
10.30 - 11.00 Tea break
11.00am-11.45am
d. Epidemiology of antifungal resistance in yeasts and in vitro susceptibility testing methods
Prof Annamaria Tortorano, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy
11.45am-12.15pm
e. Epidemiology of antifungal resistance in moulds and in vitro susceptibility testing methods
Prof Marianna Viviani, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy
12.15pm-1.00pm
f. Mechanisms of resistance and frontiers in detection of resistance
Prof Joan Bennett, Rutgers University, USA
1.00pm Lunch
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