Imphal : Dr. Sanjukta RajKumari, a researcher from Manipur, has won the Best Poster Award at the prestigious 2026 International Symposium on Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli, one of the world’s leading scientific conferences on foodborne bacterial pathogens.

The symposium was held in Aberdeen from May 10 to 13 and brought together more than 400 scientists, clinicians and public health experts from 25 countries.

Participants included representatives from globally recognised institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United States Department of Agriculture, University of Cambridge, the Roslin Institute and Italy’s National Institute of Health.

Dr RajKumari received the award for her research poster titled “Temporal pangenome dynamics and functional diversity of Escherichia coli O26 in a cattle farm.” Her research explored how Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains evolve and adapt over time in livestock environments through changes in their genetic composition.

Experts said the study has significant implications for global food safety and public health, particularly in understanding the evolution and transmission of dangerous foodborne pathogens.

STEC is considered a highly harmful group of bacteria capable of causing severe foodborne illnesses. While many E. coli strains are harmless, STEC infections can lead to bloody diarrhoea and life-threatening complications such as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, which may cause kidney failure, especially among children and elderly people.

Health experts say STEC infections are commonly associated with contaminated food, unsafe drinking water and direct contact with livestock. Preventive measures include proper cooking of meat, maintaining hygiene after handling animals, avoiding unpasteurised dairy products and ensuring access to safe drinking water.

Dr RajKumari currently serves as a Senior Scientist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), an executive agency under the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She is also a core member of the Eta Northeast Women’s Network.

Congratulating her on the achievement, Yumnam Khemchand described Dr. RajKumari as a “distinguished daughter of Manipur” and said her accomplishment reflected scientific excellence with global significance.

He said her success would inspire young people in Manipur to pursue knowledge and excellence while highlighting the growing contribution of scientists from Northeast India to the international scientific community.