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Winichakoon P, Tongjai S. The Emerging of CRF01_AE: A Clinical Story and Future HIV/AIDS Situation in Thailand. Curr HIV Res 2021; 18:74-84. [PMID: 31995011 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x18666200129160723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The HIV epidemic in Thailand in the 1980's compromised the country's socio-economic development. The epidemic first became evident in the community of men with male sexual partners (MSM), and subsequently spread to intravenous drug users (IVDU), female commercial sex workers (CSW) and their male clients, and, ultimately, to their partners and children. The HIV epidemic has devastated the country's working-age population. The extensive negative impact and social stigma associated with the disease do not only have an impact on the victims of HIV but also on their descendants and relatives. An epicenter of the HIV epidemic has been in the northern provinces of Thailand. An HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE, a complex chimeric virus composed of both A and E subtypes, is prevalent in Northern Thailand. The virus has quickly become a predominant viral strain circulating in Thailand, other neighboring Southeast Asian countries, and China as well as some other countries throughout the world. The epidemiology, evolution, and biology of CRF01_AE offer a unique model for further scientific investigations which would advance the knowledge of and curative strategies against HIV. In addition, Thailand has developed suitable national guidelines on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in order to control the epidemic. Effective antiretroviral drugs are, therefore, able to be made available to those who live with HIV. The national surveillance system has also been effective. The great efforts and resources which Thailand has dedicated to the fight against the epidemic have eventually paid off. In 2010, a plan was proposed to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission and Thailand has become the first country to be effective in this objective. Thailand therefore has become recognized as being the global leader in HIV prevention and treatment. The experience which Thailand has gained from the past and the current research and management strategies of the HIV epidemic has prepared the country for emerging strains of HIV-1 in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poramed Winichakoon
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Tambon Sriphum, Amphoe Muang, Thailand
| | - Siripong Tongjai
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Tambon Sriphum, Amphoe Muang, Thailand
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Chasapi A, Aivaliotis M, Angelis L, Chanalaris A, Iliopoulos I, Kappas I, Karapiperis C, Kyrpides NC, Pafilis E, Panteris E, Topalis P, Tsiamis G, Vizirianakis IS, Vlassi M, Promponas VJ, Ouzounis CA. Establishment of computational biology in Greece and Cyprus: Past, present, and future. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007532. [PMID: 31856214 PMCID: PMC6922331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Chasapi
- Biological Computation & Process Lab, Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, Thessalonica, Greece
| | - Michalis Aivaliotis
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonica, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Lefteris Angelis
- School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonica, Greece
| | - Anastasios Chanalaris
- Botnar Research Centre, NDORMS, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ioannis Iliopoulos
- Division of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ilias Kappas
- School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonica, Greece
| | - Christos Karapiperis
- School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonica, Greece
| | - Nikos C. Kyrpides
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California, United States of America
| | - Evangelos Pafilis
- Institute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Eleftherios Panteris
- First Psychiatric Clinic, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonica, Greece
| | - Pantelis Topalis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - George Tsiamis
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Ioannis S. Vizirianakis
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonica, Greece
| | - Metaxia Vlassi
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasilis J. Promponas
- Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
- * E-mail: (VJP); (CAO)
| | - Christos A. Ouzounis
- Biological Computation & Process Lab, Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, Thessalonica, Greece
- * E-mail: (VJP); (CAO)
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Abstract
Bioinformatics plays a key role in supporting the life sciences. In this work, we examine bioinformatics in Jordan, beginning with the current status of bioinformatics education and research, then exploring the challenges of advancing bioinformatics, and finally looking to the future for how Jordanian bioinformatics research may develop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qanita Bani Baker
- Department of Computer Science, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Maryam S. Nuser
- Department of Computer Science, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
- Department of Information Systems, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
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Hetu M, Koutouki K, Joly Y. Genomics for All: International Open Science Genomics Projects and Capacity Building in the Developing World. Front Genet 2019; 10:95. [PMID: 30828348 PMCID: PMC6384230 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic medicine applications have the potential to considerably improve health care in developing countries in the coming years. However, if developing countries do not improve their capacity for research and development (R&D) in the field, they might be left out of the genomics revolution. Large-scale and widely accessible databases for storing and analyzing genomic data are crucial tools for the advancement of genomic medicine. Building developing countries' capacity in genomics is accordingly closely linked to their involvement in international human genomics research initiatives. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a pilot study on the impact of international open science genomics projects on capacity building in R&D in developing countries. Using indicators we developed in previous work to measure the performance of international open science genomics projects, we analyse the policies and practices of four key projects in the field: the International HapMap Project, the Human Heredity and Health in Africa Initiative, the Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network and the Structural Genomics Consortium. The results show that these projects play an important role in genomics capacity building in developing countries, but play a more limited role with regard to the potential redistribution of the benefits of research to the populations of these countries. We further suggest concrete initiatives that could facilitate the involvement of researchers from developing countries in the international genomics research community and accelerate capacity building in the developing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hetu
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Yann Joly
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Khan AM, Tan TW, Schönbach C, Ranganathan S. APBioNet-transforming bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific region. PLoS Comput Biol 2013; 9:e1003317. [PMID: 24204244 PMCID: PMC3814852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Asif M. Khan
- Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tin Wee Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: (TWT); (SR)
| | - Christian Schönbach
- School of Science and Technology, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics and Biomedical Informatics R&D Center (BMIRC), Kyushu Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shoba Ranganathan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail: (TWT); (SR)
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Qiu S, Lin S, Hu D, Feng Y, Tan Y, Peng Y. Interactions of miR-323/miR-326/miR-329 and miR-130a/miR-155/miR-210 as prognostic indicators for clinical outcome of glioblastoma patients. J Transl Med 2013; 11:1. [PMID: 23281771 PMCID: PMC3564822 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-11-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Thailand faces a significant burden in terms of treating and managing degenerative and chronic diseases. Moreover, incidences of rare diseases are rising. Many of these—such as diabetes, cancer, and inherited inborn metabolic diseases—have no definite treatments or cure. Meanwhile, advanced health biotechnology has been found, in principle, to be an effective solution for these health problems. Methods Qualitative approaches were employed to analyse the current situation and examine existing public policies related to advanced health biotechnologies in Thailand. The results of this analysis were then used to formulate policy recommendations. Results Our research revealed that the system in Thailand in relation to advanced health biotechnologies is fragmented, with multiple unaddressed gaps, underfunding of research and development (R&D), and a lack of incentives for the private sector. In addition, there are no clear definitions of advanced health biotechnologies, and coverage pathways are absent. Meanwhile, false advertising and misinformation are prevalent, with no responsible bodies to actively and effectively provide appropriate information and education (I&E). The establishment of a specialised institution to fill the gaps in this area is warranted. Conclusion The development and implementation of a comprehensive national strategic plan related to advanced health biotechnologies, greater investment in R&D and I&E for all stakeholders, collaboration among agencies, harmonisation of reimbursement across public health schemes, and provision of targeted I&E are specifically recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuwei Qiu
- Department of Neurology, The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
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Buttigieg PL. Perspectives on presentation and pedagogy in aid of bioinformatics education. Brief Bioinform 2010; 11:587-97. [PMID: 20724457 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbq062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Using live presentation to communicate the interdisciplinary and abstract content of bioinformatics to its educationally diverse studentship is a sizeable challenge. This review collects a number of perspectives on multimedia presentation, visual communication and pedagogy. The aim is to encourage educators to reflect on the great potential of live presentation in facilitating bioinformatics education.
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Zeti AMH, Shamsir MS, Tajul-Arifin K, Merican AF, Mohamed R, Nathan S, Mahadi NM, Napis S, Tan TW. Bioinformatics in Malaysia: hope, initiative, effort, reality, and challenges. PLoS Comput Biol 2009; 5:e1000457. [PMID: 19714208 PMCID: PMC2723929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Azura M H Zeti
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Abstract
The 2008 annual conference of the Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet), Asia's oldest bioinformatics organisation set up in 1998, was organized as the 7th International Conference on Bioinformatics (InCoB), jointly with the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology in Taiwan (BIT 2008) Conference, Oct. 20-23, 2008 at Taipei, Taiwan. Besides bringing together scientists from the field of bioinformatics in this region, InCoB is actively involving researchers from the area of systems biology, to facilitate greater synergy between these two groups. Marking the 10th Anniversary of APBioNet, this InCoB 2008 meeting followed on from a series of successful annual events in Bangkok (Thailand), Penang (Malaysia), Auckland (New Zealand), Busan (South Korea), New Delhi (India) and Hong Kong. Additionally, tutorials and the Workshop on Education in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (WEBCB) immediately prior to the 20th Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) Taipei Conference provided ample opportunity for inducting mainstream biochemists and molecular biologists from the region into a greater level of awareness of the importance of bioinformatics in their craft. In this editorial, we provide a brief overview of the peer-reviewed manuscripts accepted for publication herein, grouped into thematic areas. As the regional research expertise in bioinformatics matures, the papers fall into thematic areas, illustrating the specific contributions made by APBioNet to global bioinformatics efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoba Ranganathan
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW 2109, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
| | - Wen-Lian Hsu
- Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Computer Science, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ueng-Cheng Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics and Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tin Wee Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
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