Day -1 Monday, August 30,2010

7.30–8.30 AM

Breakfast & Registration

8.30–9.15 AM

INAUGURAL CEREMONY

Day 1 Session 1

9.15-10.35 AM

The Indian and Global HIV Epidemic                

• Recap early cases of HIV – Global/India
• Past and current trends in Indian and global  epidemic
• HIV genetic diversity – subtypes
• Current approaches to prevent the sexual  transmission of HIV infection
• Prevention approaches in trial
• Key findings in the prevention of MTCT
• Research priorities

10.35–10.55 AM

Understanding HIV Pathogenesis and Recent Trends

• Mechanisms of HIV transmission through sexual route
• Immunopathogenesis and T-cell dynamics.
• Viral set-point and asymptomatic phase of HIV infection.
• Host and viral factors in disease progression.
• Exposed uninfected – Rapid Progressors - LTNP – Elite controllers
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

Discussion (10.55 – 11.10 AM)

Coffee Break (11.10 – 11.25 AM)

Day 1 ; Session 2

11.25-11.45 AM

Immunogenetic Basis of HIV-1 Infection, Transmission and Disease Progression.

• AIDS restriction genes
• Role of host factors (mutations/polymorphisms in HIV co-receptors)
• Genetic basis of natural resistance to HIV.
• Genetic factors that modulate immune response and disease progression
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

11.45-12.05 PM

Natural History of HIV Disease - Changing Trend

• Stages of HIV disease
• Disease progression and clinical manifestations
• Surrogate markers in HIV disease
• Spectrum of OIs among HIV patients in India – past and present trends
• Clinical management of HIV/AIDS and challenges in treatment
• NH of HIV differs from global scenario?
• Research priorities

12.05-12.25 PM

Lessons to learn form HIV vaccine failure

• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

Discussion (12.25 - 12.40 PM)

Day 1 Poster Session & Lunch Break (12.40-2.30 PM)

Day 1 ; Session 3

2.30–2.50 PM

National/WHO Recommendations on HIV Testing and Blood Safety

• Updated HIV testing algorithms & strategies
• Issues associated with testing strategies using rapid tests
• Biological false positivity
• HIV testing in blood bank and national policy
• Review of diagnosing HIV infection in infants and young children
• Virologic and antibody tests & interpretation in infant diagnosis
• Use of Dried blood spots
• Research priorities

2.50 – 3.10 PM

Newer Diagnostic Methodologies in HIV disease

• Newer HIV diagnostic and monitoring methodologies
• Merits and demerits of each method
• Newer methodologies – OI diagnosis
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

3.10 - 3.30 PM

HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• High-risk population and common STDs
• HIV transmission and influence of STDs
• Overview of clinical manifestations of STDs in HIV patients
• Limitations of lab diagnosis of STDs
• Syndromic management of STDs and its effectiveness in HIV prevention
• New, neglected, and uncommon STDs
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

Discussion ( 3.30 – 3.45 PM)

Coffee Break  ( 3.45 – 4.00 PM)

Day 1 ; Session 4

4.00 – 4.20 PM

Nanotechnology and Infectious Diseases

• Concept of nanotechnology
• Potential role of nanotechnology in diagnosis/treatment
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

4.20 - 4.40 PM

HIV-1 impairs in-vitro priming of naïve T cells and gives rise to contact-dependent suppressor T cells

• HIV pulsed DCs induce T cell impairment
• HIV primed T cells up-regulate certain negative stimulatory (suppressor T cells) molecules
• Suppressor T cells impair the function of other T cells in a contact-dependent manner
• Blockade of HIV induced suppressor molecules restores T cell function
• Research priorities

4.40 – 4.50 PM

Bio-safety in Healthcare Settings – National /WHO Guidelines

• Transmission of blood-borne pathogens in the health care setting
• Universal precautions and infection control methods
• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis and guidelines/national policy (NACO)

Discussion (4.50 – 5.05 PM)

Concluding Remarks & Closure of First Day Scientific Sessions

Day 2 ; Session 1 ; Tuesday 31^st August 2010

8.30-8.50 AM

HIV and Oral manifestations

• Oral manifestations in HIV disease
• Past and current trends
• Research priorities

8.50-9.10 AM

Co-infection: HIV and TB

• HIV and tuberculosis co-infections in India
• Impact of TB On HIV and HIV on TB – clinical manifestations
• Extra-pulmonary TB
• Role of BCG vaccination for HIV infected infants
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

9.10- 9.30 AM

Co-infection: HIV and Filaria

• HIV and Filaria co-infections in India
• Interaction between HIV and Filaria
• Clinical manifestations in HIV patients
• Diagnostic issues
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

9.30 – 9.50 AM

Co-infection: HIV and Hepatitis Viruses

• HIV and hepatitis viruses co-infections in India
• Clinical manifestations of hepatitis viral infections in HIV patients
• Diagnostic issues
• Response to Hepatitis B vaccination in HIV patients
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

Discussion (9.50 – 10.05 AM)

Coffee Break (10.05 – 10.20 AM)

Day 2 ; Session 2

10.20 – 10.40 AM

Opportunistic Infections in HIV - Mycotic

• Common mycotic OIs in HIV in India
• Overview of Indian literature
• Diagnostic methods for common mycotic OI & role of laboratory tests (sensitivity and specificity of common tests)
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

10.40 – 11.00 AM

Opportunistic/Co-infections in HIV - Parasitic

• Common parasitic OIs in HIV in India
• Overview of Indian literature
• Diagnostic methods for common parasitic OI & role of laboratory tests (sensitivity and specificity of common tests)
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

11.00 – 11.20 AM

Parasitic infections and HIV-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in Indian scenario

• Immunological mechanisms of IRIS
• Diagnostic markers
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

Discussion (11.20 – 11.35 AM)

Day 2 Poster Session & Lunch Break (11.35 – 1.30 PM)

Day 2 ; Session 3

1.30 – 1.50 PM

Anti-HIV Activities of Medicinal Plants

• Anti-HIV-1 activities in extracts from medicinal plants - an in vitro studies
• Current status of compounds/active principles derived from medicinal plants
• Potential benefits of plant derived products
• Status of studies from India
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

1.50 – 2.10 PM

HIV Drug Resistance Basic Principles and Mechanisms

• ART drug targets
• ART classes and their mode of action
• Evolution and mechanism of viral resistance
• Common mutations and its role drug resistance
• Polymorphisms and its role in drug resistance
• Resistance testing and its importance
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

2.10 – 2.30 PM

Host–virus genome interactions: macro roles for microRNAs

• Biogenesis and mechanism of action of micro RNAs
• Computational tools for discovery of microRNA and their targets
• MicroRNAs as an antiviral defense mechanisms
• Mammalian microRNAs as positive regulators
• MicroRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutics
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

2.30 – 2.50 PM

Biosignatures of negative T cell co-stimulation: Unveiling additional preprints of immune abrogation in HIV disease

• Mechanisms of T-cell dysfunction
• Negative co-stimulatory molecules and T cell regulation in HIV infection
• LAG-3, PD-1, CTLA-4, TRAIL etc. as negative factors of T cell impairment in HIV infection
• Association of Blimp-1 and Foxp3 as transcriptional regulators of T cell activation and proliferation
• Research priorities

Discussion (2.50 – 3.05 PM)

Coffee Break  (3.05 – 3.20 PM)

Day 2 ; Session 4

3.20 – 3.40 PM

HIV Clinical Trials – Challenges in India

• Cultural and social challenges
• Other challenges

3.40 – 4.00 PM

Challenges in HIV Preventive Vaccine Development

• Major challenges in HIV vaccine development
• Past experience and current approaches
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

4.00 – 4.20 PM

AIDS Vaccine Development: Current status and the Way Forward

• Gist of ongoing vaccine trials
• Outcome of recent vaccine clinical trials
• Ethical and regulatory issues and other challenges
• Recent research updates
• Research priorities

4.20 - 4.40PM

Emerging Infectious Diseases and Future Research

• Combating emerging infectious diseases
• Research priorities for India

4.40 – 5.00PM

Bioethics in HIV/AIDS research

• Ethical issues in HIV/AIDS research
• National guidelines on bioethics

Discussion ( 5.15 – 5.30 PM)

Distribution of Prize for Best Abstract/Posters, Closing Remarks & Vote of Thanks by Prof. Suniti Solomon, MD, FAMS

CLOSURE

Download Symposium Agenda