[Scientific collaboration of Russia and France in the study of ricketsioses].
The description of emerging diseases unknown for the scientists before 90th has begun by the cooperative description of Astrakhan spotted fever by Irina Tarasevich and Didier Raoult. Molecular methods gave the possibility to distinguish its etiological agent from other rickettsiae and to prove that it differs from all other species, so this gave the background to describe the new disease. At the same time, this event promoted the collaboration between Russian and French groups of rickettsiologists. Collaborative studies of both groups in addition provoked the proposed idea of species criteria in rickettsioigy, that, in its turn, gave the way to revealing multiple novel rickettsiae and rickettsioses. I. Tarasevich created the stable cooperation with D. Raoult and this cooperation spread for all laboratories also. So, Oleg Mediannikov, Stan Shpynov, Anna Evstigneeva are always welcome in Marseille. Prolonged recently Cooperation Agreement between Gamaleya Institute and Universite de Mediterranee has brought already fine results and, hopefully, will bring yet the continuation of scientific and close friendly relationship.
Raoult
D
D