1The drug resistance issue affects the entire bacterial world. Strains resistant to all antibiotics, referred to as “superbugs”, have already appeared on every continent. This threat explains why researchers are actively trying to understand the mechanisms of emergence of this resistance. It appears that strains already resistant to one antibiotic are more likely to develop new forms of resistance. These new forms seem to particularly affect Global South countries, where there are few or no regulations on the use of antibiotics for humans and animals. In this context, the setting up in South-East Asia of “One Health” projects, based on the combined study of the environment and animal and human health as part of a holistic have appeared, is essential when devising effective control strategies.

Research on the epidemiology of tuberculosis, Vietnam.

2Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis, is dangerous and particularly difficult to eliminate. A combination of four antibiotics for six months is required to eradicate it, provided the bacterium has not developed any resistance. Over the years, an increasing number of multi-drug resistant strains have appeared, which require the use of second-line antibiotics.

3In order to combine these various therapeutic options, the degree of resistance of M. tuberculosis must be determined first. This is far from obvious, as it takes nearly one month to grow and characterise the bacteria.

4In 2009, a programme was launched in South-East Asia to map the different forms of tuberculosis found in the region. Several strains resistant to first and second-line antibiotics were identified. This triggered an inventory of all resistance genes found in Asian bacteria. This survey allowed researchers to create a diagnostic tool capable of characterising, in a single experiment and within five hours, the type of resistance (simple or multiple) of an M. tuberculosis strain. This was a tremendous achievement. This tool must however be patented and improved before being placed on the market for use by countries of the Global South.