Stewart COLE, Professor, Bacterial Molecular Genetics Unit, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France Camille LOCHT, Dept. Head of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Pathogenesis, Pasteur Institute, Lille, France The accomplishments for which Stewart Cole and Camille Locht have been acknowledged focused on the molecular and genomic analysis of mycobacteria and other pathogenic bacteria of the respiratory tract, such as Pertussis. In the last ten years, advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms determining virulence or antibiotic resistance using molecular and genomic approaches have opened new horizons for diagnostics, epidemiological surveillance, disease prevention and treatment of diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy and pertussis-associated respiratory diseases. Indeed, the latter diseases remain prevalent in a large part of the world, and progress in these areas can have a direct importance for public health. The laureates’ results have been the object of universal recognition, which amply justifies that Stewart Cole and Camille Locht have been chosen as co-laureates of the Jean-Pierre Lecocq Prize. |