Promoting Microbiology Literacy and Holistic Health: IMiLI and IMiLI-SAC Perspectives on Microbes, Diet, Lifestyle and Society-A 5-Year Journey.

Abhilash Kumar, Princy Hira, Utkarsh Sood, Pushp Lata, Shailly Anand, Anjali Saxena, Amit Kumar Singh, Helianthous Verma, Vivek Negi, Nirjara Singhvi, Ankita Dua, Aeshna Nigam, Nidhi Garg, Banishree Jali, Renu Solanki, Priya Singh, Kiran Bala, Shekhar Nagar, Vipin Gupta, Charu Tripathi, Jasvinder Kaur, Jaspreet Kaur, Rashmi Kumari, Nitish Kumar Mahato, Roshan Kumar, Mansi Verma, Parminder Kaur, Pratyoosh Shukla, Swati Majumdar Biswas, Meenakshi Dua, Sanjukta Subudhi, Rekha Kumari, Gauri Garg, Seema Makhija, Ravi Toteja, Charu Dogra Rawat, Rajeev Singh, Sukanya Lal, Juan L Ramos, Kenneth Timmis, Rup Lal

Journal: Microbial biotechnology 2026;19(6):e70400

PMID: 42290122

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Abstract

This manuscript summarises the 5-year journey of the International Microbiology Literacy Initiative (IMiLI) and its South Asian Regional Centre (IMiLI-SAC). The main focus of the centre has been to propagate microbiology literacy and at the same time translate microbiome science into society. IMiLI-SAC played an important role in engaging audiences from diverse backgrounds across India and beyond by conducting lectures, organising workshops and outreach programs. In addition, it has also translated many educational resources in regional and cultural languages for wider presentation. IMiLI-SAC played a pivotal role in connecting microbial science with real-world issues like sustainable development, human health, dietary choices, lifestyle, preventive healthcare and planetary health. This initiative practically translates the role of microbes in different contexts using examples like microbiome studies in India, extremophiles and their biotechnological applications, and bioremediation of contaminated sites. It emphasises the important role of microbes as essential players to sustain life on earth, and changing the perception of society that views microbes as harmful or pathogens. It also supports the concept of 'food as medicine' and 'antibiotic stewardship'. However, there are certain challenges like financial constraints, resources limitations and not as much awareness. Yet, IMiLI-SAC proposes that coordinated and multilingual community engagement will address this gap between science and society. The long-lasting vision of IMiLI-SAC is to incorporate microbiology literacy into school curricula, policies and public health to have a sustainable and healthy world.

Address: Molecular Biology and Genomics Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Molecular Omics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; KIIT- Technology Enabling Centre, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.; Department of Zoology, Shivaji College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; JSS University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.; Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.; Department of Zoology, CMP College, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.; Department of Zoology, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; College of Commerce, Arts and Science, Patliputra University, Patna, Bihar, India.; Department of Zoology, Kolhan University, Chaibasa, Jharkhand, India.; Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.; Department of Zoology, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi, India.; School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.; Department of Zoology, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.; School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.; Microbial Biofuels and Biochemical Department, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, Miranda House College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Department of Environmental Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.; Department of Zoology, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Phixgen Pvt. Ltd., Gurugram, Haryana, India.; CSIC, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada, Spain.; Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.; Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.; Phixgen Pvt. Ltd., Gurugram, Haryana, India.

DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.70400

MeSH Terms: Humans, Life Style, India, Holistic Health, Microbiota, Microbiology, Diet