CSIR- NCL Pune, Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), Pune Chapter, and Vidnyan Bharati (VIBHA), Paschim Maharashtra Prant, jointly organised a half-day symposium to observe ‘World Microbiome Day’ under the theme “The Microbial World” on 29 July  2022. 

Dr Yogesh Shouche, Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, and Honorary Scientist, National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, gave the inaugural address and plenary session on the ‘Microbiome and emerging career opportunities.’ He mentioned that soil, plants, and humans contain bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms. They have specific effects on living individuals and their health, environment, and energy; every living individual has its own microbiome. 

He further emphasised the global variation in microbiome, and diseases. He also talked about the Human Genome Project with extraordinary human health applications, gut microbes and their actions on the human body, and athletic microbiome. He threw light upon the microbiome-based therapies for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Microbial Consortia, genetically engineered microbes, and Bioactive Molecules. He also explained the triangle of Genetics, Environment, and microbiome and presented pan-India mapping of the human microbiome.

The programme further proceeded with a panel discussion on ‘Microbiome: Science and Entrepreneurship opportunities’ where Dr Ranjan Sinha (Digbi Health, California), Dr Yugandhar Reddy (Unilever India), Dr Vineet Ahuja (AIIMS, New Delhi), Shri Piyush Bhanu (Xome Life Sciences, Bangalore), Dr Dhiraj Dhotre (NCCS, Pune), Dr Kumaran Sankaran (Leucine Rich Bio, Bangaluru) interacted on different aspects of microbiome research, entrepreneurship, opportunities, and challenges. 

The panel discussion majorly emphasised the research on microbiome, personalised medicines and their effects in India, healthy diet, microbiome based products, microbiome education progress in India, and prospects of microbiome in India. Many students, faculties, and dignitaries from various colleges participated in the programme. The discussion was moderated by Dr Shrikant Pawar (General Manager, Mylab Discovery Solutions, Pune).

Earlier, Dr S. Gopinath, Deputy Director, CSIR-NCL, Pune, gave the welcome remarks and felicitated the dignitaries on the dais including Dr Yogesh Shouche, Honorary Scientist, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune.

Dr Manasi Malgaonkar (Secretory, VIBHA, Paschim Maharashtra Prant) briefed about activities carried out by VIBHA Paschim Maharashtra Prant. Dr Snehal Kulkarni (EC Member, AMI, Pune Chapter) informed about the AMI activities and its contributions to the development of Microbiology. Dr Mahesh Dharne, Principal Scientist, CSIR-NCL, gave the concluding remarks.