A Legacy of Discovery and Diagnostics in Rickettsioses at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia

Symposium Objective

To commemorate and highlight the Institute for Medical Research (IMR)’s enduring contributions to the discovery, diagnosis, and surveillance of rickettsial diseases, particularly in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. This symposium aims to showcase IMR’s historical breakthroughs in rickettsial research, its pioneering role in molecular and serological diagnostics, as well as integrated research on Acari vectors in advancing rickettsioses surveillance and public health impact.

Introduction

Rickettsial diseases are a diverse group of zoonotic infections that pose a persistent threat to public health, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions like Southeast Asia. Accurate detection, timely diagnosis, and understanding of their transmission dynamics are critical to mitigating their burden. For over a century, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Malaysia has played a central role in shaping the landscape of rickettsial disease research, diagnostics, and vector studies. This symposium, “A Legacy of Discovery and Diagnostics in Rickettsioses at IMR Malaysia,” brings together four key presentations that collectively represent IMR’s multidimensional contributions:

• Historical Discovery – A reflection on IMR’s foundational role in the early discovery and characterization of rickettsial pathogens, setting a historical benchmark in regional biomedical research.
• Molecular Diagnostics – An exploration of IMR’s current innovations in molecular techniques, with a focus on scrub typhus, that enhance early and accurate diagnosis in endemic regions.
• Serological Diagnostics – A presentation on the deployment of immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence assays as essential tools in the laboratory detection of rickettsial infections.
• Vector Surveillance – Insights from the Acarology Unit on the research and diagnostic services related to ticks and mites (Acari) as vectors, including detection of Rickettsia and other pathogens from vector samples.

By bridging historical breakthroughs with modern diagnostic technologies and ecological research, this symposium underscores IMR’s legacy and continued leadership in combating rickettsial diseases. It serves as a platform to celebrate scientific milestones while inspiring future directions in research, diagnostics, and vector control strategies.