Flu virus impact: No telling how it will go

Heatmap of incidence of 2017 flu season, from FluTracking.
Your participation welcomed in the joint Australia - New
Zealand flu tracking survey: join here

by Anne Crawford

With winter approaching and the influenza (flu) season hovering health authorities and others are wondering if this year’s flu season will be a repeat of the deadly one that occurred last year. It’s a question being asked a lot lately of Professor Allen Cheng, infectious diseases expert at The Alfred Hospital. 

Indeed, Professor Cheng, who runs part of Australia’s hospital-based flu surveillance system FluCAN, is perennially asked if he can predict what will happen in the upcoming season. His answer is the same every year: no, he can’t.

Fibre in diet linked to flu protection

Professor Ben Marsland in the lab. Image: CHUV

It has long been known that a diet rich in fibre improves intestinal health and reduces inflammation in the gut. Now, a Monash University study shows that fibre can protect against the flu virus.

Professor Benjamin Marsland from the Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, together with Swiss colleagues, showed in mice that fibre fermented in the gut by bacteria countered influenza A, one of the most common viral diseases worldwide.

The findings, published today in Immunity, suggest that fermented fibre and byproducts of this process called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) could be investigated further for potential use in preventing and treating viral infections including the flu, and possibly as a supplement to improve the efficacy of the flu vaccine.

Not all fibres are created equally

Prebiotic fibre in legumes, garlic and onion may be better 
for your gut than some fruits and vegetables.

by Matt Jane

Diets including fibres found in legumes, garlic and onion may hold the key to a healthier gut according to a study conducted by Monash PhD student, Daniel So.

Through a detailed analysis and review of 64 papers, the study found that the consumption of prebiotic fibres would nourish and increase good bacteria in the gut resulting in a more harmonious digestive system.

Early bird 2 June for Surgical Research Essentials (SuRE) intensive course!

SuRE is accredited by RACS

Mr James Lee is the Surgical
Research Essentials  (SuRE)
course convenor

Mr James Lee is offering his highly successful intensive course: Surgical Research Essentials (SuRE) for the third year running.

Register your interest now. Early bird registration discount closing 2 June 2018

Why do this course?

A good understanding of surgical research is essential for a surgeon. Good quality research and the ability to apply it clinically is the cornerstone in evidence based practice. In training the surgeons of the future, compulsory research requirements have now been incorporated into every surgical training program. Not only that, research experience and output has become one of the differentiators in many job and training position applications.

• Find out more: www.monash.edu/medicine/ccs/surgery-alfred/teaching/sc-sure
• Register & pay: shop.monash.edu/intensive-course-surgical-research-essentials-sure.html

RACP John Snow award for medical student Ned Latham



Medical student Ned Latham presenting at the RACP
John Snow awards

Congratulations to Ned Latham, a current Monash medical student, who has won the 2018 Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) John Snow Award for his research.

This annual award goes to the highest ranked student research presentation on public health at the RACP's annual congress.

Ned's presentation had two parts. The first part presented an evaluation of the acceptability of point-of-care hepatitis C testing for people who inject drugs. For this project, Ned interviewed 19 people who had recently undergone point-of-care hepatitis C testing at needle syringe programs as part of a pilot study run by the Burnet Institute (the Rapid-EC study). The second part of his presentation was a reflection on the value of qualitative research in public health.

Congratulations to our recently completed PhD students!

Congratulations Timothy (pictured)
and Annas!

Congratulations to our recently completed PhD students, Mr Timothy Gottschalk and Mr Annas Al-Sharea! We wish them well for their future scientific careers.

Participants sought for blood research at ACBD

Alex Louey donating blood for the
ACBD research programs.

We want you - or rather, about 50+ mls of your blood!

We provide $10.00 to cover the cost of your parking/travel costs.

If you are available from Tuesday to Friday between 8.30-10.00 am could you please contact Nikki Kara to arrange an appointment time. Email nikki.kara@monash.edu, ph 99030122
 

Reminder: if you have donated in the last 8 weeks, you are not currently eligible to donate.