A national webinar on “Lactic Acid Bacteria from Starter Cultures to Cell Factories for Probiotics” was organized by Department of Dairy Microbiology, College of Dairy Science and Technology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana under the guidance of Dr Ramneek, Dean, College of Dairy Science and Technology and Dr Parkash Singh Brar, Director Extension Education and Principal Investigator of ICAR-NAHEP Institutional Development Plan (IDP). The purpose of the webinar was to familiarize dairy technology students with fast emerging application of lactic acid bacteria as probiotics, postbiotics and globobiotics; besides having traditional role as starter cultures. 117 students of B. Tech. (Dairy Technology) and faculty members from 29 different institutions across 21 states of India actively participated in the webinar.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Tomar, Principal Scientist (Dairy Microbiology), Academic Coordinator as well as Principal Investigator, Institutional Development Plan, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal was the resource person. His talk covered the emerging significance of microbes, both as bio-therapeutics and their global impact in several clinical scenarios and in spoilage. He termed the current age as microbial age with impact of microbes being clearly visible on different facets of life including animal, human and environment. Dr Tomar covered lactic acid bacteria as a whole, right from the historical perspectives to their use as starter cultures, and their emerging role as pro- and post-biotics. He also briefed about the new concept of gut-brain axis explaining the role of microbes in host genetics. He also emphasized on the role of team spirit and multi-tasking in success of dairy professionals.
A fruitful question answer session was held at the end of webinar in which queries of students were resolved satisfactorily. The event was organized by Dr. P.N. Dwivedi, Head, Department of Dairy Microbiology, Dr Harsh Panwar, Dr S.K. Mishra, Dr Namita Rokana and coordinated by Dr. Varinder Pal Singh, IDP GADVASU team member.
