On 6 August, VNUHCM-University of Science hosted the thematic seminar Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria and Vaccine Development with the participation of learners, lecturers, scientists, experts, and representatives from research organisations in Viet Nam and abroad. The event aimed to update the latest advances in microbiology and immunology, while fostering interdisciplinary research collaboration.

Against the backdrop of antimicrobial resistance emerging as a serious threat to global health, the development of alternative solutions for controlling infectious diseases has become an urgent priority. Vaccines, with its proven preventive capacity, are increasingly recognised as a strategic approach to reducing dependence on antibiotics and limiting the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

At the seminar, the collaborative project Community-Acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae Surveillance and Vaccine Development (Kleb-CASAVA) was officially announced. This joint initiative between the Centre for Bioscience and Biotechnology (CBB) and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) aims to enhance epidemiological surveillance capacity in Viet Nam and to develop potential vaccine candidates for Klebsiella pneumoniae – a pathogen listed among the high-priority antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

The seminar featured presentations on topics such as Evolution of Pathogenicity in Escherichia coli – Dr François Blanquart, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, France; Klebsiella pneumoniae in Viet Nam: The Urgent Need for a Vaccine – Dr Pham Thanh Duy, OUCRU; Vaccines for Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens – Prof. Susanna Dunachie, University of Oxford, UK; and Bacillus subtilis as a Novel Mucosal Vaccine Delivery Vector – Assoc. Prof. Nguyễn Đức Hoàng, CBB.

The seminar provided a high-quality academic forum that promoted scientific exchange and strengthened interdisciplinary research cooperation. Advancing vaccines against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens holds strategic significance for controlling infectious diseases and safeguarding the effectiveness of antibiotics in treatment. The Kleb-CASAVA project is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing epidemiological surveillance and developing vaccines tailored to the specific context of Viet Nam.