On September 12 to 19, 2026, a delegation from the Institute visited the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang (Socialist Republic of Vietnam). The delegation consisted of Dr. Vladimir Dedkov (Deputy Director for Research), Dr. Anna Dolgova (Head, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Pathogenic Microorganisms), Dr. Ekaterina Klyuchnikova (Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Monitoring), and Dr. Shokhrukh Khasanov (Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Pathogenic Microorganisms). The visit aimed to discuss the current progress of dissertation projects by two affiliated Vietnamese specialists and to coordinate upcoming research programs.
During the visit, the team reviewed the theses projects of Dr. Phan Vu Tien ("Flavivirus Burden in Central Vietnam") and Dr. Doan Thi Thanh Thuy ("Genetic Diversity and Serological Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Central Vietnam, 2020–2024").
At a working meeting, the parties also discussed and gave general approval to the concept of a joint project focused on studying bat species composition in Central Vietnam (Quang Tri, Hue, and Quang Ngai provinces) and screening for priority zoonotic pathogens: coronaviruses, henipaviruses, lyssaviruses, «Rickettsia», and «Borrelia». The St. Petersburg team confirmed which pathogens from the proposed list could be effectively detected.
