Project News

Basic lecture on Anthrax by Dr Ha, NIHE

Training course on basic knowledge and laboratory diagnosis of Anthrax was held in NIHE from 13 July to 19 July, 2014. Participants consisted of 6 bacteriologists;1 from Yen Bai, 1 Ha Giang, 1 Lai Chau , 1 Dien Bien PCPMs and 2 Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh (PI-HCMC). Lecturers and supervisors included Dr. Okutani from NIID, Japan and Dr. Thu Ha (Head of Laboratory of Rare Bacteria) and BSc Thanh Hai from NIHE, Hanoi. Anthrax occurs especially in the northern-mountain area of Vietnam every year. The training course provided important opportunity to participants from PCPM in the northern-mountain area where they need the proper procedure of DNA purification from affected patients and animals, and surrounding environments such as soil and water. Participants from PI-HCMC attended the course in order to learn the safe procedure for isolation and detection of Anthrax in the so-called "white powder" against bioterrorism. This training course focused on augmentation of diagnosis capacity of Anthrax and strengthening of laboratory network among laboratory staffs from PCPMs by practical guidance including how to isolate safely DNA from suspected samples, and detect the Anthrax-specific DNA by PCR and LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) methods. All of the participants successfully obtained a good performance with both methods. LAMP method was invested by Japanese researches and is based on isothermal ( at 60℃) amplification of target sequences, which requires no expensive apparatus such as PCR thermocyclers, allows PCPM researchers to perform screening test for Anthrax even in northern-mountain area where is not well-equipped with electricity. Training course also provided proper procedures for safe transportation of suspected samples to top referral institute, NIHE. These might make it possible to strengthen laboratory network for diagnosis of Anthrax between laboratory staffs from the northern-mountain PCPM and NIHE. Hereafter, in the future scheme of laboratory network for Anthrax, PCPM researchers may carry out LAMP method on suspected samples as the first screening test in northern-mountain area and then transport LAMP-positive samples to NIHE, where extensive analysis such as PCR and sequencing might be performed.