Pranav Johri is a patient-turned-entrepreneur who founded Vitalis Phage Therapy to help patients with bacterial infections access Phage Therapy. Phage Therapy utilises bacteria-eating viruses called ‘bacteriophages’ that kill infections caused by pathogenic bacteria. In this interview, Pranav shares with us his lived experience with multi-pathogenic antibiotic-resistant infection and how it was treated by Phage Therapy. Pranav tells us how this experience with an untreatable infection and new biomedical intervention was the motivation behind establishing Vitalis Phage Therapy that has provided much-needed support to a large number of patients. Dive into this interview to learn more about his gruelling yet inspiring journey of surviving a deadly infection and how he turned adversity into opportunity.
Author: SaS India
Saathvik’s ‘Superheroes Against Superbugs’ Story
16 year-old Saathvik Vennelaganti lives in Hyderabad, India. He attended a workshop organised by Superheroes Against Superbugs in 2019. This article was originally published on Stop Superbugs website. For the longest time, I thought that all diseases could be cured through medical treatments or that at least their symptoms could be suppressed by medicines. I … Continue reading Saathvik’s ‘Superheroes Against Superbugs’ Story
Grassroots Comics on Antibiotic Resistance
Click here to read our comic compilation Sharad Sharma and Sarah Iqbal | India is at the forefront of the global epidemic of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Studies estimate that 58,000 newborns in India die each year due to infections caused by resistant superbugs. There are currently 700,000 deaths worldwide due to antibiotic resistance (a subset … Continue reading Grassroots Comics on Antibiotic Resistance
Common myths about microbes
Somdatta Karak | Are bacteria and viruses very different? Are we at war with microbes? Are all microbes evolving ways to infect and kill us? Too tiny to be seen, microbes seem to lead mysterious lives. Let’s explore some common myths around them in this e-booklet. This e-booklet was originally published in the iWonder magazine of … Continue reading Common myths about microbes
5 Questions with Superheroes Against Superbugs
This interview was originally published by Battle Superbugs. Children can change the world! So that’s why we were excited to meet the creators of Superheroes Against Superbugs, a program in India that aims to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance and superbugs and change behavior through comic books designed by children. Superheroes Against Superbugs was developed in … Continue reading 5 Questions with Superheroes Against Superbugs
Mapping bacterial growth to fight superbugs
Somdatta Karak and Disha Chauhan | Many antibiotics work by inhibiting cell wall formation in bacteria. But in a bid to survive as most other living organisms, bacteria mutate and evolve into antibiotic-resistant superbugs. In this zine by Somdatta Karak (words) and Disha Chauhan (art), learn about how Dr Manjula Reddy and her team's research … Continue reading Mapping bacterial growth to fight superbugs
Let’s Talk Superbugs: Making Sense of Antimicrobial Resistance in India
During the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW2020), Superheroes Against Superbugs along with DBT/ Wellcome Trust India Alliance and CCMB, Hyderabad, organised an online panel discussion ‘Lets’s Talk Superbugs: Making Sense of Antimicrobial Resistance’. In the video below hear experts - Dr Jyoti Joshi, Head of South Asia, The Center For Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, … Continue reading Let’s Talk Superbugs: Making Sense of Antimicrobial Resistance in India
Rise of the deadly superbugs – how can we respond?
Sarah Iqbal | This article first appeared in the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance newsletter. Antibiotics have dramatically reduced the number of deaths from infections and infectious diseases since they were introduced 70 years ago. They have been the most vital and commonly-used medication to combat life-threatening infections caused by disease-causing bacteria, but using antibiotics can have side … Continue reading Rise of the deadly superbugs – how can we respond?
Superheroes Against Superbugs 