'India important place to study microbiology'

India is an important place to study microbilogoy due to the presence of infectious diseases found in third world countries along with infections that exist in technologically developed countries, a senior French microbiologist today said.
Philippe Sansonetti, a professor at the Pasteur Institute and College de France in Paris, said climatic conditions and high population were the main reasons for prevailing infectious diseases in the country.
"India is important in regards to the study of microbiology for two reasons. One, it is exposed to all forms of infection and diseases that are prevalent in the third world.
"Second, it also has to face a new form of infectious diseases, found in highly technologically developed countries," Sansonetti said.

The French microbiologist is researching on several aspects of the pathogenesis of Shigella- an invasive bacterial pathogen that disrupts, invades and causes destruction of the human clonic mucosa.
He also has over 500 published papers in peer-reviewed journals and is member of the French Academy of Sciences, US National Academy of Science and the Royal Society.

"India has climatic reasons and a large population. Here you will find infectious diseases, that are similar in Southeast Asia and some parts of Africa like the acute respiratory diseases in young children. Again, there are microbes that circulate in hospital. That is another form of infection," he said.

"In 2010, French Academy of Science and Indian Academy of Science, discussed new forms of diseases. We have to teach each other (India and France) about this. All this is important in terms of microbiology," he added.
Sansonetti said that overuse of antibiotics will kill the purpose of antibiotics itself.
"I often say that we in the Western countries have created a lot of problems. By not controlling the use of antibiotics, we may kill the purpose of it. It is important to establish a global network in antibiotical network. Overusage of antibiotics, you will kill antibiotics," he said.
Sansonetti will also deliver lectures in New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore on microbiology starting January 12 to 16, which will be a part of the College de France Lecture Series in India from this year. The initiative will also have French academicians from pure and social science background delivering lectures in India.