DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

Founded in 1923

The department was headed by prof. Isahakyan A.I. (1923-51), prof. Avetikyan B.G. (1951-54), prof. Mikayelyan V.G. (1954-75), associate professor. Frangulyan L.A. (1975-86), prof. Shekoyan V.A. (1986-present).
The founder of the department and well experienced scientist prof. Abgar I. Isahakyan was born in Shoolaver (1885-1977, Georgia). In 1911 he graduated from the Medical faculty of Odessa University. Afterwards he worked in the pathological and microbiological laboratories of the same University. In 1914 he served in the Armenian Armed Forces and did scientific research work in the field of prevention of infectious diseases. In Armenia Leishmaniosis, Endemic Typhus fever, Protozoal intestinal infections and Malta fever (brucellosis) were first dedected and described in detail by Prof. A. Isahakyan. He actively participated in the foundation of the scientific-research institute of Sanitary -Hygiene and the Zoo-Veterinary Institute. For years he headed the Microbiological Department of the first, then the Department of Microbiology of the least institutions. He is a co-auther of more than 40 scientific works.
For about 20 years the department had been headed by another well experienced scientist prof. Mikayelyan G. Vergine, DSc, who had a great big contribution in the development of medical education, microbiology and immunology in Armenia. Mikayelyan V.G. was born in 1903 in the city of Gyumri. In 1927 she was among the 32 graduates of the Medical Faculty of Yerevan State University and she worked in the epidemiological service of the practical public health in the different regions of the Armenia. In 1932 she worked as an assistant in the Department of Epidemiology diseases of the Medical Institute, from 1938 to 1944 she was the rector of the Medicaol Institute. From 1951 to 1954 she was the head of the Department of Food Hygiene; from 1954 to 1975 she headed the Microbiology Department. In 1940 she has been awardwd the degree of PhD in medicine, in 1948 she has defended doctoral thesis. Under her leadership 15 candidates and one doctoral thesises were defended, which were dedicated to the diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases and as well as to research dealing with immunology. She was the president of the Society of Microbiologists of RA and Member of the Board of the Society of Microbiologists and infectionists of USSR. She was awarded by multiple medals and awards.
The Department has been headed by professor Vladimir A. Shekoyan since 1986. He was born in 1942 in Yerevan. In 1964 he graduated from the Medical Faculty of Yerevan State Medical Institute and over 53 years he has carried out scientific and pedagogic activity in Medical University. He was an aspirant, a lecturer, then a professor of Medical Microbiology Department. Today he is the head of the Medical Microbiology department. From 1979 to 1981 he worked in the Central Scientific Research Laboratory of the YSMU as a head of Immunological Laboratory. In 1967 he defended degree of PhD and in 1978 DSc. In 1982 he was awarded the academic title of Professor. More than 50 years his scientific activity has been dedicated to the investigation of the role interaction of the nervous and immune systems in immunological processes. He is the co-author of more than 140 scientific and educational-methodical publications including a monographs, three books, and handouts for General and Special Microbiology, Virology and immunology. Under his leadership 9 candidates and one doctorial thesis were defended. Prof. Shekoyan is a member of Russian Academy of natural sciences (Armenian branch) and Academy of the Medical Sciences of RA. He is a member of the Specialized Council and drafting committees of the different scientific journals. In 1979-1982 was the chairman of the Trade Union Committee of YSMU. From 1983 to 1991 was the dean of the Medical Faculty, 2002-2011 he has been the Vice-rector of Academic Affairs of the YSMU. Prof. V. A. Shekoyan was awarded the medal of M. Heratsi for his long standing and organizing scientific and pedagogic activity. In 2010 he was awarded the honorary title of honored Scientist of RA.
For different years in the department the scientific-educational activity has been done by the following lecturers: Mirzabekyan A.H., Melkumyan M.A., Frangulyan L.A., Shekoyan E.G., Aharonova J.A., Manukyan R.H., Babayan N.P., Tovmasyan V.S., Chilingaryan S.Ts., Kalashyan K.Kh., Mkheyan L.D., Tarverdyan H.A., Hovhannisyan M.S., Manukyan K.Gh., Muradyan D.M., Zalinyan S.Yu., Abgaryan K.H., Poghosyan G.M., Asoyan V.A, Cargsyan L.A., Gevorgyan Z.U., and so on.

The teaching process of Medical Microbiology Virology and Immunology is carried out in three languages: Armenian, Russian and English. The course is designed for second and third year students (General Medicine, Stomatology, Military medicine and Farmacy Facultues). Teaching is held through the lectures, practical classes and laboratory works.
For the last years there has been a great improvement in the teaching process, in the creation of educational-methodical literature and also in the importing of new technologies. Textbooks and handouts have been published in three different languages: Armenian (“Բժշկական մանրէաբանություն, վիրուսաբանություն և իմունաբանություն”, 2009; 2015, “Մեթոդական մշակումներ ընդհանուր մանրէաբանությունից”, 2003), English (“Methodical instructions for practical lessons of common microbiology”, 2001, “Methodical instructions for Practical lessons of special microbiology”, 2002, “Viruses. General characteristics of viruses. Viral structure. Taxonomy of viruses. Viral multiplication. Cultivation of viruses. Bacteriophage”, 2003, “Microflora of plant drug raw material, phythopathogenic microorganisms, microbial control of drug material. Microbiology and Immunology of stomotologic diseases”, 2008, “Special microbiology”, 2016) and Russian (“Общая микробиология”, 2008, “Частная микробиология”, 2016). Electron bank of lectures and tests in three languages, an electron atlas on microbiology, different types of multimedia (CD’s, video, etc.) dealing with the subject have been created in the department. English teaching was organized in 2002/03 by experienced teachers (5 associate professors and 3 lecturers).

The scientific research project of the department is dedicated to the study of the role of neuro-immune interactions in formation and duration of immunological processes (factors of natural and acqired immunity, levels of IL-2, TNFα and prolactin) in normal and pathological conditions (wound infectious process, stress caused by immobilization and hyperkinesia of different duration), as well as to the immunomodulatory role of small doses of GABA in correction of negative concequecvances caused by above mentioned pathological preocesses (V. Shekoyan, D. Muradyan, S. Zalinyan, G. Poghosyan, K. Abgaryan).
Nowdays, in the department state of the intestinal microflora of rats is investigated, and also the possible translocation of intestinal bacteria in the conditions of hypokinetik stress of different duration.
Student scientific-research group always acts in the department, members of which are involved in the scientific-research work of the department. For the last decade, four candidate thesises were defended and more than 60 scientific works have been published by workers of the department, the results of which have been presented in international conferences (Italy, Spain, France, and Russia).