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IBMBB premises remained closed from 2021-05-10 to 2021-05-23 since one staff member has been diagnosed as positive for Covid-19.

9th Biennial Scientific Sessions of the Allergy & Immunology Society of Sri Lanka (AISSL) The 9th Biennial Scientific Sessions of the Allergy & Immunology Society of Sri Lanka (AISSL) was held at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IBMBB), University of Colombo on the 26th March, 2021. The President-AISSL, Prof Shiroma Handunnetti welcomed the participants on site and on line as it was a hybrid event, and introduced the Chief Guest, Emeritus Professor Kamini Mendis. Following the President’s address by Prof Shiroma Handunnetti, sessions commenced with Free Paper Sessions. The first Professor Anura Weerasinghe Memorial Oration was delivered by Dr. Rajiva de Silva, Consultant Immunologist, Medical Research Institute & Past President-AISSL. There were six guest lectures delivered by Prof Ashley St. John, Prof. Thsashi Chang, Prof. Suranjith Seneviratne, Prof Gregory Bancroft, Dr. Dinakantha Kumararatne and Dr. Thushan de Silva. Free paper sessions were conducted under the topics Basic Immunology and Clinical Immunology. The 9th AISSL Scientific Sessions were concluded with the award ceremony for the Best presenters in Basic and Clinical Immunology and Best Poster Presentation.

With the intension of value addition to Sri Lankan traditional medicine, a study on investigating immunomodulatory effects of a concoction comprising Coriandrum sativum (Koththamalli) and Coscinium fenestratum (Venivelgeta) was conducted by a team of academics of the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology (IBMBB), University of Colombo. Koththamalli and Venivelgeta have long been used in Sri Lankan traditional medicine to treat cold, fever, runny nose, cough., etc. However, it has not been yet scientifically validated to confirm the immunomodulatory effect of Koththamalli and Venivelgeta. Therefore, this study for the first time scientifically validates the therapeutic claim of Sri Lankan traditional use of the Koththamalli and Venivelgeta. The present study have shown that Koththamalli and Venivelgeta have immunomodulatory effect while keeping the immune system in balance; stimulating it when there’s something to fight and down regulating it when it’s overactive. The concoction was made according to traditional Sri Lankan medicinal practice, by boiling 30 g each of Koththamalli seeds and Venivelgeta stem in 1920 ml of water in a copper vessel till it reached approximately 240 ml. The freeze-dried concoction was used to assess the immunomodulatory effects by using the human equivalent dose (HED) that is relevant for testing its effects in rats. It was calculated that human equivalent dose is equal to (HED-183 mg/kg). Anti-inflammatory activity of the concoction was assessed by investigating the production of nitric oxide (NO), expression of iNOS enzyme, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by rat peritoneal cells. Immunostimulatory activity of the concoction was determined by assessing the specific haemagglutination antibodies raised against sheep red blood cells. It was observed that the concoction of Koththamalli and Venivelgeta has exhibited potent anti-inflammatory as well as immunostimulatory activities. Together these results scientifically validate the therapeutic use of the concoction of Koththamalli and Venivelgeta in Sri Lankan traditional medicinal system for immunomodulatory effects.

The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a human and animal pathogen recently emerged in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province of China, causing a spectrum of severe respiratory illnesses.Corona viruses makes entry in to human cells through its spike protein that binds to cell surface receptors. Wide spread of 2019-nCoV has been attributed to relatively high affinity of S protein to its receptor. Although highly important, unavailability of a high-resolution crystal structure and solvent accessible binding surface has made it a tedious target for current rapid virtual screening research groups. A homology model of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of 2019 -n CoV spike protein that is reasonably acceptable for drug screening was prepared using a high resolution crystal structure of SARS corona virus (SARS CoV) spike protein. Data obtained from RBD- receptor docking experiments and from molecular dynamics experiments were used to map a RBD- Receptor interaction hotspot that can be used to design small molecule inhibitors. The hot spot was then used for virtual screening of more than 3300 drugs approved by FDA and other authorities for clinical use. A cardiac glycoside (dgitoxin), two anthracyclines (zorubicin and aclarubicin), a tetracycline derivative (rolitetracycline), a cephalosporin (cefoperazone) and a food dye (E-155) were predicted to be most potent inhibitors of RBD – receptor interaction. An anti-asthmatic drug (zafirlukast) and several other drugs (itrazol, fazadinium, troglitazone, gliquidone, Idarubicin, Oxacillin) were found to be high affinity binders that may have a potential to inhibit RBD – receptor interaction. Results of present study suggest the potential of Zorubicin and its analogsas prophylactic medications or use in preventive measures.

Hybridoma Technology for Monoclonal Antibody  Production: Applications in Immunodiagnostics Inauguration Ceremony Participants engaged in Laboratory Activities Lectures in Progress Prof. Christoph Hagamayer, Foreign Expert is delivering the lecture Final Day and Closing Ceremony Awarding certificates to the participants Appreciating the contribution of speakers, resource persons and members of organizing committee Delivering Vote of Thanks