BioMMED Service
All BioMMED service functions are provided to LSU-based investigators on a charge back basis. Typically, LSU researchers are charged only the costs of supplies, while most of the personnel costs are provided via support of participating LSU units.
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Hello and welcome to the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (BioMMED) at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge, LA. We are engaged in innovative research to determine the molecular basis of various diseases, as well as to develop novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. BioMMED is a multidisciplinary research, support and development unit that provides centralized access to state-of-the-art equipment and advanced training in molecular and cell biology. In addition, BioMMED oversees three NIH:NCRR funded research cores: The Non-Human Primate Laboratory Core, the Molecular Biology and Immunology Core Laboratories, and a Louisiana undergraduate institution molecular and cell biology training core. The functions of these core laboratories are integrated within BioMMED and Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) facilities and consist of state-of-the-art equipment and support services that are jointly staffed by BioMMED and TNPRC faculty and personnel.
BioMMED is comprised of 5 service oriented centralized core laboratories: 1) GeneLab; 2) Cellular and Non-Invasive Whole Animal In Vivo Imaging Laboratory); 3) Bioinformatics, Computational, and Visualization Laboratory; 4) Viral Vector Laboratories (VVL); 5) Protein and Antibody Production and Purification Laboratory (PAPPL).
We hope that you’ll find our web site to be a useful window into our division and that you will contact us with any questions or comments that you might have.
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The Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (BioMMED) of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine on the LSU Baton Rouge campus administers the LSU-Tulane Center for Experimental Infectious Disease Research, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. BioMMED personnel have been involved over the past five years in screening various natural compounds and methodologies for ability to treat various diseases including skin lesions caused by herpesviruses, West Nile virus infections, influenza and other important infectious pathogens.
BioMMED has tested the antiviral and antibacterial properties of a variety of compounds produced by different companies worldwide. Of particular interest for the current swine influenza infection is that BioMMED personnel have shown in experiments with mice that certain compounds extracted from blue-green algae can boost resistance to influenza H1N1 infection. Other readily available chemicals and natural plant-derived compounds have potent activity for neutralizing free influenza virus from contaminated surfaces. Interestingly, exposure of blood to ultraviolet radiation was shown by BioMMED experiments to prevent massive infiltration of lymphocytes into the lungs of mice infected with influenza virus effectively preventing lung damage and the onset of acute upper respiratory disease. BioMMED is currently working to evaluate a number of natural compounds for their ability to inactivate influenza virus. “There is increasing resistance to currently available drugs. New, non-toxic drugs and methodologies are needed to combat influenza and other lethal pathogens” Dr. Gus Kousoulas, BioMMED Director says. In the meantime, Dr. Kousoulas suggests lots of rest, drinking lots of water and avoiding contact with people having flu-like symptoms. “Staying home if you have the flu is the best thing that you can do for yourself and your community”.
A clinical rounds lecture on Influenza, given at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine by Dr. Gus Kousoulas, is available here: Clinical Rounds Lecture-Influenza Virus.
More information about the current outbreak of Swine Influenza (Flu) can be found at:
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention website
or
World Health Organization website.
Also, for a Q&A of "Swine Influenza and You", visit the CDC website.
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| Author: |
emily |
| Dated: |
Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 04:56 PM CDT |
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626 times |
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BioMMED is looking at the origin, transmission, and spread of the 2009 H1N1 Influenza A virus. This virus has been described as swine flu, in the United States as well as the rest of the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this strain is a novel flu virus that can be transmitted person-to-person. To this point there have been in excess of 10,000 known cases including 17 deaths in the U.S. alone (as of 6/02/09).
This figure is a circular cladogram based on the hemagglutinin (HA) sequences from selected 2009 H1N1 strains. The HA sequences were obtained from Genbank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/FLU/SwineFlu.html). The sequences were deposited in GenBank between 27th April and 1st June 2009. The sequences were aligned using ClustalX and a Neighbor-joining tree was constructed. The tree was rooted using 1995 H1N1 isolate from China (AY289928) and a 1998 H1N1 (AF386778) isolate from Hong Kong, China. Bootstrap analysis was done based on one thousand replicates to lend statistical validity to the branching pattern. Values >70% are generally considered significant and are shown in the figure.
Isolates are represented by their GenBank accession numbers followed by a two letter code for the state (US) or country of origin viz. AU (Australia), CH (China), CD (Canada), DE (Denmark), EN (England), ES (Spain), GE (Germany), IS (Israel), KO (S. Korea), ME (Mexico), NE (Netherlands), NZ (New Zealand), SH (Stockholm, Sweden), TH (Thailand).
The current tree is based on the HA gene alone from a few selected strains. Consequently, it is difficult to establish the origin of the 2009 swine flu outbreak. A larger, more inclusive dataset will be useful to delineate the evolution and spread of the H1N1 flu virus. Additional comparative analysis using the neuraminidase gene (NA) and other genes from the same H1N1 isolates may help establish an evolutionary pattern.
*This evolutionary tree is provided strictly for clulstering informational purposes and cannot, in any way, be interpreted to suggest a specific origin for the swine flu.
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| Author: |
emily |
| Dated: |
Monday, May 18 2009 @ 09:01 AM CDT |
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1,598 times |
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BILL FEIG/The Advocate
Gus Kousoulas, left, director of the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine in LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, watches as Marc Boudreaux, right, the clinical coordinator for BIOMMED, works in one of the division’s laboratories. Research on infectious diseases, including swine flu, is conducted at the division.
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On Saturday, May 16th, 2009, an article was featured in The Advocate about BioMMED's focus on infectious diseases.
Gus Kousoulas is quick to tell a visitor that LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine is not just about treating a sick dog or horse — it’s also about finding treatments for infectious diseases in humans, including swine flu.
The School of Veterinary Medicine created the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine — BIOMMED — eight years ago to do that research, said Kousoulas, BIOMMED director.
“We’re a bona fide research center with a primary focus on infectious diseases,” he said. “We’re at the forefront of endemic diseases here.”
A lot of the infectious diseases they study are ones that an animal transmits to a human, such as swine flu, West Nile virus and Lyme disease.
Most recently, the center’s researchers focused on the H1N1 virus that recently threatened to become a pandemic.
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| Author: |
emily |
| Dated: |
Friday, May 08 2009 @ 08:37 AM CDT |
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1,630 times |
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A recently concluded animal study reported by Scandinavian Clinical Nutrition (SCN) was conducted at the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Biotechnology & Molecular Medicine (BIOMMED), which administers the NIH-funded Center on Experimental Infectious Disease Research (CEIDR). It showed promising results with regard to preventive effects and milder symptoms of H1N1 infection (Influenza type A), by documenting that mice ingesting Immulina experienced a significant reduction in both symptoms and lung tissue damage after being infected by the influenza virus H1N1, compared to placebo.
For the remainder of the article, click here.
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