PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORKSHOP HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.

29 May - 2 June, 2017

The Centre was pleased to host scientists from WHO National Influenza Centres in the WHO Western Pacific Region for a week-long workshop on viral isolation and characterisation of influenza viruses, hosted by the Centre at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. In total, 17 scientists from Australia, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam attended the workshop. Staff from the Centre, Dr Kazuya Nakamura from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Japan and Dr Frank Konings from the WHO Office for the Western Pacific Region (WPRO) presented lectures and led laboratory practical sessions in techniques on cell culture and isolation of influenza viruses.

During lectures and demonstrations, participants had an opportunity to learn about:

• GISRS, the global influenza surveillance network and the importance of sharing viruses
• methods for detecting and charcterising influenza viruses in clinical specimens and isolates
• isolation of viruses in eggs and vaccine development
• other respiratory viruses
• different technologies for detecting influenza viruses using rapid test kits

Through practical hands-on laboratory exercises participants had an opportunity to further develop their skills in:

• cultivating and isolating influenza viruses from cell culture
• assessing cytopathic effect and haemagglutination to confirm virus growth
• using serology to identify influenza virus isolates

We would like to thank WPRO for its support and assistance in co-ordinating the workshop.