When it came time to take their wedding photos, FuiBoon Kai and Andrew Leidal knew that one location had to be on their list: the Microbiology labs in which they met.

Kai, who just graduated with her PhD in Microbiology from Dal, met her future husband while working in side-by-side labs.

She was having trouble a technique in her lab and I made excuses to try and assist her with what she was doing, says Leidal. My motives werent just to help with the science, he jokes.

Leidal grew up on a farm in southern Ontario. He completed his undergrad at the University of Toronto before coming to Dal to study viruses and cancers. Kai is from Malaysia and does research on prostate cancer.

When it came to the proposal wedding proposal, that is, not a research one Kai admits to being a little difficult.Leidal first had the impulse to propose when he spotted a massive rainbow near the Bedford Basin after a major storm. She would say, Havent you seen a storm before? I want to go home and do my work. When Leidal planned on proposing with breakfast in bed, Kai was more worried about getting crumbs on the sheets until he pointed out there was something else on the tray. He then got down on one knee and popped the question.

The couple had two weddings: one in Malaysia and one in Canada. The Malaysian wedding was first. It consisted of many traditions and had 700 guests, including Leidals family and friends from the lab. There was a traditional Chinese ceremony which involved Leidal paying a dowry, which included a roasted pig. In a traditional Chinese wedding, the members of the brides immediate family are given their invitations by hand from the groom with a slice of the roasted pork and a slice of cake. The brides family get the choice cuts of the pig and the grooms family get the butt and the head.

The Canadian wedding was a traditional Catholic wedding held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Oxford street with a reception at the Lord Nelson. The brides immediate family came from Malaysia and everyone from the lab attended the wedding. All of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were members of the labs. With the exception of immediate family, everyone there was from lab, says Leidal. And, of course, there were photos taken in the lab as well.

The bride and groom both come from very different backgrounds, but have found common ground here at Dalhousie.

Were both very thankful to have come to Dal and met each other. Its really destiny that weve met, says Kai.

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A lab love connection

Public release date: 18-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

Patients in Vietnam and other locations with central nervous system infections may well be suffering from the effects of a newly discovered virus, according to a study to be published in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Researchers have detected the virus in spinal fluid from 4 percent of 642 patients with central nervous system infections of unknown cause, and in an average of 58 percent of fecal samples from pigs and poultry, suggesting animals may serve as reservoirs for transmission to humans. The virus, called CyCV-VN, belongs to the Cyclovirus genus, a group that has never before been implicated in human or animal disease.

"The detection of CyCV-VN in a usually sterile material like cerebrospinal fluid is remarkable and may point to a pathogenic role of this virus as a single or a co-infecting pathogen," says corresponding author Tan Le Van of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The results in this study, Van cautions, do not provide absolute proof of disease causation, and further work is needed to see whether the virus poses a threat to human and animal health.

Acute central nervous system infections are responsible for illnesses and deaths around the world, but they are a particular problem in tropical regions. These infections can be caused by any of a number of bacterial, parasitic, fungal or viral pathogens, but the majority of cases go undiagnosed despite extensive efforts to identify a cause. "One of our particular interests is to improve patient diagnosis," says Van. Proper diagnosis "is essential to improve clinical management and prevention of these devastating diseases, he continues.

Inspired by the high incidence of acute central nervous system infections in Vietnam, Van and his colleagues set out to identify previously uncharacterized viruses in undiagnosed patients. Using fluid samples from more than 1,700 patients with suspected central nervous system infections or suspected viral encephalitis, the researchers generated 161,000 DNA sequence reads for further analysis.

Among these thousands of sequences, the researchers identified a sequence from a member of the Cyclovirus genus that was present in two patients, one adult and one child, both with acute central nervous system infections of unknown cause. Follow-up work with a technique called inverse PCR used that short sequence to determine the entire genome sequence of the virus present in one of the samples. CyCV-VN is a unique new species of Cyclovirus, a group that includes no known pathogens.

With the full genome in hand, the researchers went back to 642 samples from patients with suspected acute central nervous system infections and were able to detect the virus in samples from 26 patients (4 percent). The virus was not detected at all in samples from patients with non-infectious conditions of the central nervous system, like multiple sclerosis, a fact that argues that the virus could well be a human pathogen.

The virus was also detected in samples from farm animals in the province where the index patient lived: between 42 percent and 100 percent of fecal samples from pigs, ducks, and chickens in that region harbored viruses that are extremely closely related to CyCV-VN. This raises the possibility - but not certainty - say the authors, that livestock could represent a source for human infection with the virus.

Van also cautions that it is too soon to point an accusing finger at CyCV-VN. "Detection of a virus in human samples alone is insufficient to provide a direct link with an ongoing infection," he says. "Addressing the question of causation requires extensive effort."

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New virus discovered in patients with central nervous system infections

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/qrxghc/canada_in_vitro) has announced the addition of the "Canada In Vitro Diagnostics Market Outlook to 2018- Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture" report to their offering.

"Vitro Diagnostics in Canadian Market Forecast to 2018- Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture", provides key market data on the Canada In Vitro Diagnostics market.

The report provides value (USD million) data for each segment and sub-segment within seven market categories - Clinical Chemistry, Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture. The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of the aforementioned market categories. The report is supplemented with global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants with information on company financials and pipeline products, wherever available.

This research is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by our team of industry experts.

Key Topics Covered:

1. List of Tables and List of Figures

2. Introduction

3. In Vitro Diagnostics in Canada

4. Clinical Chemistry in Canada

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Research and Markets: Vitro Diagnostics in Canadian Market Forecast to 2018- Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing ...

Public release date: 18-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Garth Hogan ghogan@asmusa.org 202-942-9389 American Society for Microbiology

Washington, D.C. June 18, 2013 Joshua Obar, Ph.D., Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Montana State UniversityBozeman, has been honored with a 2013 ICAAC Young Investigator Award for his research on factors affecting the regulation of immunological memory responses to infection.

Obar earned his B.A. in Microbiology from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2001 and went on to complete his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Dartmouth College in 2006. He performed his Ph.D. thesis research in Edward Usherwood's laboratory at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, where his graduate work focused on understanding how latent viral infections affect the formation, maintenance, and function of memory CD8 T cells. Of Obar, Usherwood says, "I have encountered very few young scientists at his level who have such a depth of perception into their chosen field, combined with the intellectual drive and rigor to pursue projects through to completion." In 2005, his graduate work was recognized by the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) with the Huang Foundation Trainee Achievement Award (now the Life Technologies Trainee Achievement Award). The following year Obar joined Leo Lefranois' laboratory at the University of Connecticut Health Center as a postdoctoral fellow, where he received a NRSA postdoctoral fellowship in 2007. During his postdoctoral research he developed the methodology necessary to quantify the number of antigen-specific nave CD8 T cells within a polyclonal population, which he used to study early events regulating effector and memory CD8 T cell development during numerous infectious diseases.

In 2010, Obar joined the faculty in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Montana State University Bozeman. Since starting his own laboratory he has been studying the innate immune response in the respiratory tract following viral and fungal infections by trying to understand what regulates the balance of immunity and immunopathology during these infections. Obar's nominator and Chair of his department at Montana State University, Mark Quinn, said "since coming to Montana State University, Josh has continued to excel in his research on understanding the role of T cells and other leukocytes in the immune response to viral pathogens." In addition to the Huang Foundation Trainee Achievement Award, Obar has also won a NIH K22 Award and in 2012, he was selected by the AAI Public Policy Fellowship Program. Quinn concludes by saying, "Overall, Obar is an outstanding young investigator with amazing potential for a stellar career in microbiology and infectious diseases."

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The ICAAC Young Investigator Award will be presented during ASM's 53rd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), September 10-13, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. ASM is the world's oldest and largest life science organization and has more than 40,000 members worldwide. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and promote the use of scientific knowledge for improved health, economic, and environmental well-being.

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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The American Society for Microbiology honors Joshua Obar

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6h74b7/thermo_fisher) has announced the addition of the "Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Market Share Analysis" company profile to their offering.

The new report, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Market Share Analysis provides in-depth information on Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.'s market position in the different medical equipment markets it operates in. The report provides Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. market share information in five key market categories - Infectious Immunology, Microbiology Culture, Immuno Chemistry, Clinical Chemistry and Histology And Cytology. The report also provides data and information on the overall competitive landscape of the markets, the company operates in. The report is supplemented with global corporate-level profile with information on the company's business segments, major products and services, competitors, locations and subsidiaries, financial deals and other key developments.

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- Global company shares (in Revenues) information for the key markets Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. operates in - In Vitro Diagnostics

- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.'s company shares (in Revenues) information for all the key countries the company has presence in - Brazil, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, United States, Australia, China and India.

- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.'s company shares (in Revenues) information for all the key market categories the company has presence in - Infectious Immunology, Microbiology Culture, Immuno Chemistry, Clinical Chemistry and Histology And Cytology.

- All the key data-points are for 2011 and cover all the key regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), South and Central America and Middle East and Africa.

- The company profile is also supplemented with a SWOT Analysis with in-depth information and analysis of the company's value proposition and the business climate it operates in.

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Research and Markets: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Market Share Analysis - 2013 Report Out Now

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fj8w5l/biorad) has announced the addition of the "Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Market Share Analysis" company profile to their offering.

The new report, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Market Share Analysis provides in-depth information on Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.'s market position in the different medical equipment markets it operates in. The report provides Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. market share information in five key market categories - Microbiology Culture, Genetic Testing, Haematology, Infectious Immunology and Immuno Chemistry. The report also provides data and information on the overall competitive landscape of the markets, the company operates in. The report is supplemented with global corporate-level profile with information on the company's business segments, major products and services, competitors, locations and subsidiaries, financial deals and other key developments.

Scope

- Global company shares (in Revenues) information for the key markets Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. operates in - In Vitro Diagnostics.

- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.'s company shares (in Revenues) information for all the key countries the company has presence in - Australia, India, Japan, China, France, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, United States and Brazil.

- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.'s company shares (in Revenues) information for all the key market categories the company has presence in - Microbiology Culture, Genetic Testing, Haematology, Infectious Immunology and Immuno Chemistry.

- All the key data-points are for 2011 and cover all the key regions - North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South and Central America and Middle East and Africa.

- Global corporate-level profile with information on the company's business segments, major products and services, competitors, and locations and subsidiaries.

- The company profile is also supplemented with a SWOT Analysis with in-depth information and analysis of the company's value proposition and the business climate it operates in..

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Research and Markets: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Market Share Analysis - 2013 Out Now