Bhaswati Bandyopadhyay

Genomic Characterization of Nipah Virus, West Bengal, India

An intrafamilial outbreak in West Bengal, India, involving 5 deaths and person-to-person transmission was attributed to Nipah virus. Full-genome sequence of Nipah virus (18,252 nt) amplified from lung tissue showed 99.2% nt and 99.8% aa identity with the Bangladesh-2004 isolate, suggesting a common source of the virus.

A Comprehensive Study on the 2012 Dengue Fever Outbreak in Kolkata, India

Background. Dengue viruses (DV) belong to the family Flaviviridae, with four serotypes referred to as DV-1, DV-2, DV-3, and DV-4. A large-scale outbreak of dengue fever occurred in 2012 involving several districts of West Bengal. Objective. To present a comprehensive picture of the dengue fever outbreak in 2012 and to identify the prevailing serotypes. Materials and Methods. Serum samples were collected from suspected dengue fever cases. Samples from fever cases <5 days duration were tested for dengue NS1 antigen employing Pan Bio (Australia) NS1 ELISA kit. Serum samples of ≥5 days fever were tested for dengue-specific IgM by MAC ELISA test kit prepared by the National Institute of Virology Pune, India. Serotyping of dengue samples was done by dengue-specific reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results. The number of dengue cases in 2012 clearly outnumbered the dengue cases in 2010 and 2011. The majority of the cases were in the age group 11–30 years with a male preponderance. Outbreak occurred during the months of Aug.–Nov. indicating increased vector transmission in the monsoon and postmonsoon periods. The prevailing serotypes in this outbreak were Den1, Den3, and Den4.

Death due to chikungunya

After its first appearance in Kolkata (Calcutta) during 1963–1965, chikungunya occurred in epidemic form in India in 17 states and union territories. There were 13,90,322 cases suspected to be suffering from chikungunya in 2006, 59,535 in 2007 and 11,222 in 2008; in 2006, 2007 and 2008 there were 15,961, 7,837 and 262 samples, respectively, sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and the National Institute of Communicable Disease, Delhi, for serological diagnosis. Of these, 2001, 1826 and 44, respectively, were confirmed as chikungunya. There were no deaths (data from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Government of India).

HIV-HBV Coinfection among Individuals Attending the ICTC of a Tertiary Care Hospital in West Bengal, India

Background. Hepatitis B and HIV infections are serious global public health problems. Many of the countries with high HIV burden are also affected by high prevalence of hepatitis B infection, leading to frequent HIV/HBV coinfection. Seroprevalence study is important to assess the magnitude and dynamics of disease transmission and to decide the prevention and control strategy. There is limited data of seroprevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection in West-Bengal, India. Objective. To determine the seroprevalence of HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) positivity among HIV infected individuals attending an integrated counselling and testing centre (ICTC) attached to a tertiary care hospital in eastern India. Materials and Methods. Serum samples collected over a period of 6 months from subjects attending the ICTC were screened for anti-HIV antibodies by using rapid card tests as per the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) protocol. Serum samples found to be reactive for HIV antibodies were tested for HBsAg by rapid card test. Results. The seroprevalence of anti-HIV antibody was 17.3%. Among these samples 8.3% were positive for HBsAg. Conclusion. A high prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection among individuals attending the ICTC in this centre is a cause for concern and warrants urgent intervention.

RNA-Seq analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells reveals unique transcriptional signatures associated with disease progression in dengue patients

&NA; Patients infected with Dengue virus usually present a mild, self‐limiting febrile dengue infection (DI) that occasionally leads to a potentially lethal complication, called the severe dengue (DS). The ability to identify the prognostic markers of DS could allow an improved disease intervention and management. To identify the transcriptional signatures associated with the dengue disease progression, we carried out the high‐throughput sequencing of the RNA isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the dengue patients of varying severity and compared with that in the patients with other febrile illnesses (OFIs) or the healthy controls. The transcriptional signatures that discriminated the DS patients from OFI and DI patients were broadly related to the pathways involving glycine, serine, and threonine metabolisms, extracellular matrix organization, ubiquitination, and cytokines and inflammatory response. Several upregulated genes in the inflammatory process (MPO, DEFA4, ELANE, AUZ1, CTSG, OLFM4, SLC16A14, and CRISP3) that were associated with the dengue disease progression are known to facilitate leukocyte‐mediated migration, and neutrophil activation and degranulation process. High activity of MPO and ELANE in the plasma samples of the follow‐up and recovered dengue patients, as well as and the presence of a larger amount of cell‐free dsDNA in the DS patients, suggested an association of neutrophil‐mediated immunity with dengue disease progression. Careful monitoring of some of these gene transcripts, and control of the activity of proteins encoded by them, may have a great translational significance for the prognosis and management of the dengue patients.

Baseline characteristics of HIV & hepatitis B virus (HIV/HBV) co-infected patients from Kolkata, India.

Background & objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV co-infection has variable prevalence worldwide. In comparison to HBV mono-infection, the course of chronic HBV infection is accelerated in HIV/HBV co-infected patients. The present study was carried out to analyse the baseline characteristics (clinical, biochemical, serological and virological) of treatment naïve HIV/HBV co-infected and HIV mono-infected patients. Methods: Between July 2011 and January 2013, a total number of 1331 HIV-seropositive treatment naïve individuals, enrolled in the ART Centre of Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, India, were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). A total of 1253 HIV mono-infected and 78 HIV/HBV co-infected patients were characterized. The co-infected patients were evaluated for HBeAg and anti-HBe antibody by ELISA. HIV RNA was quantified for all co-infected patients. HBV DNA was detected and quantified by real time-PCR amplification followed by HBV genotype determination. Results: HIV/HBV co-infected patients had proportionately more advanced HIV disease (WHO clinical stage 3 and 4) than HIV mono-infected individuals (37.1 vs. 19.9%). The co-infected patients had significantly higher serum bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase and ALT/platelet ratio index (APRI). CD4 count was non-significantly lower in co-infected patients. Majority (61.5%) were HBeAg positive with higher HIV RNA (P<0.05), HBV DNA (P<0.001) and APRI (P<0.05) compared to those who were HBeAg negative. HBV/D was the predominant genotype (73.2%) and D2 (43.7%) was the commonest subgenotype. Interpretation & conclusions: HIV/HBV co-infected patients had significantly higher serum bilirubin, ALT, alkaline phosphatase and lower platelet count. HBeAg positive co-infected patients had higher HIV RNA and HBV DNA compared to HBeAg negative co-infected patients. Prior to initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) all patients should be screened for HBsAg to initiate appropriate ART regimen.

Comparative evaluation of baseline characteristics of HIV mono infected and HIV/HBV co infected cohort in eastern India.

Methods Between July 2011 and January 2013, a total number of 1331 HIV-seropositive treatment naive individuals, enrolled in the ART Centre of Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine were screened for HBsAg. A number of 1253 HIV mono-infected and 78 HIV/HBV co-infected patients were characterized. The co-infected patients were evaluated for HBeAg and anti HBe antibody by ELISA. HBV DNA was detected by nested PCR amplification followed by HBV genotype determination.

Retrospective analysis of dengue specific IgM reactive serum samples

Objective To conduct a retrospective analysis of dengue cases in Kolkata, on the basis of presence of anti-dengue IgM in their sera and presence or absence of anti-dengue IgG and dengue specific Non structural 1 (NS1) antigen in each of the serum sample.