Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Mar 6: The fourth annual ‘Prof J V Bhat Memorial Oration 2010’, an endowment lecture, was delivered by renowned microbiologist, Prof C Durga Rao of the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, at the TMA Pai auditorium, Manipal, recently.
Prof Rao, in his oration, presented an overview of the impact of rotaviruses and enteroviruses among the Indian population. Some enteroviruses are the cause for diarrhea that affects infants.
He pointed out that for 30-40 percent of diarrhea and other ailments, the causative agents are unknown. He stressed the need for more focus and research on the lesser known dangers of non-polio paralysis that is seen in parts of the country, caused by enteroviruses. His laboratory has emerged as one of the authorities on rotaviral infections in India and is currently aiming to understand the mechanism by which these viruses infect and also develop vaccines against these viruses.
Prof Rao was presented with a citation and plaque by Dr G K Prabhu, registrar of Manipal University.
Prof P M Gopinath, senior scientist at Manipal Life Sciences Centre, welcomed the gathering and described the genesis of Prof J V Bhat Endowment and the oration lecture series.
Dr P Sripathi Rao, dean of Kasturba Medical College, in his opening remarks, spoke of the contributions of Prof Bhat to science, especially microbiology, and reminisced about his time at Manipal with Kasturba Medical Hospital.
Dr Padmalatha Rai introduced Prof Rao to the gathering and Dr T S Murali proposed the vote of thanks.
Dr K Satyamoorthy, director, Manipal Life Sciences Centre, co-ordinated the annual event organized by the Centre.