Update - August 2000

Dear Colleague

You are aware that the 13IHWC meetings have been rescheduled for mid-May 2002. The dates and location of the workshop and conference are now May 12-16, 2002 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and May 18-22, 2002 in Seattle, Washington, USA respectively. More specific information about plans for May 2002 is available on the web (http://www.ihwg.org).

Meanwhile we have reviewed the progress on the Mycobacterial Disease Study as per the guidelines agreed upon. As decided earlier, the participating laboratories will perform HLA class II typing (low resolution) on their patient samples using serology or DNA based methods (PCR-SSP or PCCCR-SSOP or RLS). The central laboratory in New Delhi could help in performing high resolution class II typing wherever needed. To make the study meaningful, it is important to generate high resolution data on maximum number of samples from various ethnic groups alongwith appropriate controls.

Shipment of DNA and sera samples to New Delhi

We have already received DNA and sera samples from a few participating laboratories alongwith the low resolution HLA typing data. We would like to request the rest of the participants to do the same. Keeping in view the rescheduled IHWC dates, we have worked out revised timetable for the study.

Revised Schedule

Activity Deadline
Feedback to New Delhi on current status on sample details (DNA and sera) alongwith HLA typing data by all participating laboratories by 15th Oct, 2000
Collection and shipment* of DNA, sera and cells, if possible to New Delhi by end of Dec, 2000
Submission of HLA typing data by participating labs to central lab by end of Feb, 2001
Completion of HLA, Nramp, sCD23 and cytokine studies by end July, 2001
Submission of data to central database by end Aug, 2001
Analysis and interpretation of data Sep 2001 - March 2002
Participation in the 13th IHWC May, 2002


* Please send prior shipping intimation to us before sending the samples. It is important that we receive the tracking airway bill no. as well as flight details so as to avoid unforeseen delays and wastage of the samples.

Instructions for shipment

1. DNA You are advised to send 20ug DNA to us for each subject latest by end of this year. The DNA can be sent at room temperature. (Important note: Please contact us before sending the shipment so that we can inform you necessary requirements for customs clearance).

2. Sera and cells Kindly ship the frozen sera samples and the frozen cells, if possible latest by Dec 2000. The frozen sera must be sent in sufficient dry ice.

It is very crucial to include healthy subjects of same ethnic background in the study. Kindly quote the subject identity and disease status (in English) on each and every vial of sample that you send to us. It will be helpful if you could enclose a tabulated list of samples in detail in print as well.

The next update will be sent in November 2000. Please don't hesitate to email your queries and comments to me (narin98@hotmail.com or Nkmehra@medinst.ernet.in) or my colleague Dr (Ms) Gurvinder Kaur (gurvinder@hotmail.com) on any of the issues related to the study.

With warm regards

Narinder Mehra
Chair, Mycobacterial Disease Study
Department of Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Ansari Nagar
New Delhi-110029
India

Tel: (91 11) 6967588 (O), 6859185 (R)
Fax: (91 11) 6862663
Email: narin98@hotmail.com or nkmehra@medinst.ernet.in

 








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