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Ludmila Vīksna

Head of the Department, Department of Infectology and Dermatology
Academic Staff, Department of Infectology and Dermatology

 

Abstract
Infectology - an objective reality in the 21st century

Infectology links many scientific disciplines, including microbiology, genetics, pharmacology, epidemiology, clinical medicine and mathematics, etc. And it is because of this multidimensional cooperation that has led to the development of the discipline and success has been achieved. Which suggests that the spread of infectious diseases have largely been limited compared to previous centuries.

Tasks

The aim of the presentation is to show the achievements of Latvian scientists in the field of infectology within the framework of the State Research Program, which allows them to integrate into the realities of the 21st century.

Materials and methods

To study the interaction between viruses, bacteria and macroorganism during the development of infection, as well as mechanisms and determinants involved in this interaction, to develop innovative strategies for regulation and modulation of the infection with the assistance of a multidisciplinary consortium.
The achievement of project goals and completion of tasks are done as planned for subprojects related both to virology and bacteriology. The successful execution of the project has a positive impact on the achievement of overall program objectives, and the results obtained are used to predict the complications caused by HIV, HHV-6, HHV-7, hepatitis C and tick-borne encephalitis, to develop M. tuberculosis monitoring scheme for a practical use and to control nosocomial sepsis in intensive therapy units. In order to achieve the final goal of the project, studies should be continued as planned and the existing "tight spots" eliminated.

Main results

Indicators of inflammatory tissue processes — Pro-MMP-1 and TIMP-1 — were determined in the blood of patients with HIV, hepatitis C and tick-borne encephalitis to evaluate the possibility of fibrosis development in case of these diseases.
The expression of HHV-6 U79/80, U12 and U51 genes (markers of active infection) was tested in 58 cDNA samples of thyroid tissue (29 patients). The expression of HHV-6 U79/80 gene was found in 17/29 (57%) patients, expression of HHV-6 U12 in 3/17 (17%) patients and expression of HHV-6 U51+U12 — in 2/17 (12%) patients.
Genotyping of more than 30 M. tuberculosis clinical samples with conventional methods and analysis of the obtained data was carried out. A conventional genotyping of LAM sublineage and phylogenetic studies were performed.

Conclusions

Studies have shown that the understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of the macroorganism is of particular importance in the context when molecular biological research achievements significantly overtake the clinical aspects of human organic research.