Serving as a NABL accredited laboratory from November 2014, the Microbiology department has been able to provide standardized, courteous, consultancy services in the fields of bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology and immune-serology.
Achievements and new techniques
1. WHO National reference centre for Salmonella Typhi
2. Long-read genome sequencing of bacterial pathogens using MinION Oxford nanopore sequencing technology
3. Novel approach to develop a hybrid genome using short accurate reads and long reads with structural arrangements from IonTorrent and MinION
4. Quantification of Group B Streptococcus from colonised mother using real-time quantitative PCR
5. EQAS provider for multiple tertiary care centres across India recommended by ICMR
6. Establishment of baseline molecular data on ESKAPE pathogens using MLST and whole genome-based sequencing approaches
7. Whole genome-based SNP phylogeny for identification of genetic relatedness among the clinical pathogens including P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and S. aureus.
This Department serves as the:
» WHO reference laboratory for Vaccine Preventable Invasive Bacterial Disease (IBD) surveillance for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae in South East Asia.
» WHO national reference centre for surveillance of Bordetella pertussis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and typhoidal Salmonella.
» ICMR nodal co-ordinating centre for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter spp, Clostridium difficile, as well for non-fermenting gram negative bacilli like Pseudomonas spp and Acinetobacter spp.
» Culture and DST laboratory for RNTCP performing culture, drugs susceptibility and cartridge based nucleic acid amplification tests (Xpert MTB/Rif Assay) for 6 districts in the State of Tamil Nadu.
