Janice Matthews-Greer ('13)

LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport (LSUHSC-S)

1501 Kings Highway

Shreveport, LA  71130          

Office Phone: 318-675-4739

Cell Phone: 318-564-3001

Fax: 318-675-6059    

jgreer@lsuhsc.edu

LECTURE TOPICS AND DESCRIPTIONS

Clinical Virology Overview

This is an introductory or review presentation outlining the tools currently used in diagnostic virology.  Cell line platforms, commonly-used cell lines, hybrid cells and cytopathic effects in various cell lines are described.  The role of commercially-available antigen detection assays is discussed and molecular assays found in many or most diagnostic virology laboratories are differentiated.  The usefulness of all of these diagnostic tools is compared to serology for the diagnosis of specific viral agents.                                             

HPV Update: Genital HPV in Adolescents

This is a comprehensive discussion of Human papillomavirus epidemiology, pathogenesis and disease with a focus on the adolescent female.  Pap smear cytology and HPV DNA detection are compared and correlated for anatomic site and age.  Test systems for detection and the controversy over typing are explained in detail.  The problems associated with adolescent patients are emphasized.     

Molecular Diagnostics for Infectious Disease

This is an introductory or update presentation outlining the molecular tools available for use in infectious disease testing.  As background, the types of molecular assays, along with their chemistries, are reviewed.  Then the speaker journeys through a list of infectious agents, summarizing the assays currently available for each.  As the specific infectious agents are introduced, a reminder of the disease is given.  Optimal tests for the moderate-sized, non-reference laboratory are suggested for each agent.     

Respiratory Virus Update

This is an update presentation to review the classic “Big 7” respiratory viruses commonly isolated by diagnostic virology laboratories, to introduce new respiratory viruses that are either emergent or recently identified, and to reiterate the importance and increasingly-recognized role of older agents not routinely isolated.  Epidemiology, symptomology, and diagnostic assays for all will be presented, along with examples of testing algorithms.     

Diarrhea Virus Update

This is an introduction to diarrhea-causing viruses, their epidemiology, diagnostic assays and case presentations.  Newly-emerging and/or identified agents will be covered.  Viral disease will be differentiated from bacterial and parasitic diarrhea.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Janice Matthews-Greer, Ph.D., D(ABMM) is a Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport (LSUHSC-S).  She began as a medical technologist and returned to school to study the immune response to bacteria.  After receiving her Ph.D., she taught undergraduates and has won several teaching awards.  In July 1994 she left teaching to develop one of the first diagnostic (hospital-based) “PCR” (molecular) laboratories in the country.  Within six months she had the facility up and running for patient care and now is the Medical Director for the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory and the Human Papillomavirus Diagnostic Laboratory, both at LSUHSC-S.  Her research has focused on HPV, specifically adolescent infections. 

ASM MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATION

Primary Division        C         Clinical Microbiology

Secondary Division    S          DNA Viruses