Summary of the 3rd Asian African Congress of Mycobacteriology
The 3rd Asian African Congress of Mycobacteriology, organized by the Asian African Society of Mycobacteriology (AASM), was held online from January 27–29, 2021. The congress brought together clinicians, researchers, laboratory specialists, and public health professionals from Asia, Africa, Europe, and other regions to promote scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange in mycobacterial diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB), nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), and the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three-day scientific program featured oral presentations, expert-led sessions, poster presentations, and scientific discussions covering clinical, diagnostic, microbiological, and molecular research. Major topics included TB and COVID-19 coinfection, drug-resistant tuberculosis, new anti-TB drugs, whole-genome sequencing, molecular epidemiology, rapid diagnostic methods, host–pathogen interactions, and innovative therapeutic approaches. Other presentations addressed bovine tuberculosis, pediatric mycobacterial infections, tuberculosis-associated comorbidities, laboratory safety, and strategies for improving treatment outcomes and disease control. The program also highlighted advances in drug-resistance detection, genomic analysis, vaccine research, and new therapeutic strategies for mycobacterial infections.
The congress brought together an international group of distinguished scientists and specialists, including Daniela M. Cirillo (Italy), Nerges Mistry (India), Mitarai Satoshi (Japan), Sven Hoffner (Sweden), Igor Mokrousov (Russia), Rob Warren (South Africa), John E. Moore (United Kingdom), Ruxana T. Sadikot (United States), Alberto Piubello (Niger), Sadia Shakoor (Pakistan), and Matthew Bates (United Kingdom). These experts contributed to the scientific program as speakers and session chairs, alongside numerous other researchers and clinicians representing participating countries. The sessions provided opportunities to exchange research findings, discuss emerging scientific challenges, and strengthen international cooperation in mycobacteriology.
By providing a virtual platform for scientific presentations and discussions across multiple time zones, the congress facilitated the dissemination of research findings and strengthened professional connections among established experts and early-career researchers. Overall, the meeting emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary research, scientific innovation, and international partnerships in advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and control of mycobacterial diseases worldwide.