Newskarnataka – Udupi
Udupi: The country and the world should take cognizance of the prevalent co-infections of hepatitis viruses in HIV-affected individuals, since most of the HIV-related mortality is due to these liver infections and not necessarily from that of HIV- Prof SP Thyagarajan, former Vice-Chancellor of Madras University and current Professor of Eminence and Dean (Research) at Ramachandra University (Chennai).
He was delivering the eighth Prof JV Bhat Memorial Oration Lecture at the School of Life Sciences, Manipal University. Prof Thyagarajan spoke on a topic related to the co-infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the various forms of Hepatitis Virus (HBV, HCV etc.) in Indian population.
A pioneer in this area of research, he gave an attentive audience an overview of the different facets of the HIV-HBV and HIV-HCV co-infections. Backed by scientific data, he showed that co-infection of HIV-HCV was much more prevalent in the population than that of HIV-HBV co-infection. He also pointed out that with advances in anti-retroviral therapy (ART) death due to HIV infections has been on the wane. However, most of the deaths that still occur are due to secondary or co-infections – with liver diseases due to hepatitis virus co-infection being the most common cause. However, with the help of available prognostic markers, treatment modalities can be altered, with interactions between the clinicians and the diagnostic microbiologists. He urged the community to take note of the increase in such viral co-infections and help reduce the associated mortality.
The Prof JV Bhat Memorial Oration is an initiative of the School of Life Sciences and the Manipal University to honor the memory, excellence and eminence of Prof. Bhat by awarding Indian microbiologists with a plaque and certification for their work in this field.
Prof. Vinod Bhat (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University), in his presidential address, recalled the humble beginnings of this oration lecture and marveled at the prestige and history that it has attained in the annals of the University. He also highlighted the research and efforts of Prof. SP Thyagarajan in his pioneering research on HIV-Hepatitis co-infections, how he helped the community in treatment of such conditions and also his role in educating students at various levels. The event is organized by the School of Life Sciences ever year on the birthday of Prof. JV Bhat, by a team of enthusiasts under the guidance of Prof. K Satyamoorthy (Director, School of Life Sciences).
