MEBA · Molecular epidemiology of Bacillus anthracis: novel data and techniques for local surveillance in Tanzania
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2015-11-02 → 2017-11-01
- EU contribution
- €195,455
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Molecular epidemiology of Bacillus anthracis: novel data and techniques for local surveillance in Tanzania
Anthrax is a neglected zoonotic disease that remains endemic in many developing countries worldwide. In rural communities in northern Tanzania, regular cases and outbreaks of anthrax in livestock and people have devastating impacts on both health and livelihoods. Understanding and controlling the spread of Bacillus anthracis, the spore-forming bacterium that causes anthrax, in endemic settings is currently impeded by a lack of data on its occurrence and distribution, its genetic diversity, and on its transmission dynamics among various host species and the environmental reservoir. The aim of this fellowship was to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of anthrax in endemic settings, focusing on the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) as a model system. Overall, this Marie Curie Fellowship has resulted in the development of a strong One Health surveillance platform for anthrax, making important connections between the human and animal health sectors. The substantial samples and data that have been collected through this platform have contributed significantly to our understanding of the occurrence and impact of anthrax in the NCA, while paving the way for more in-depth molecular epidemiological studies to better understand transmission. These analyses - which are currently underway - will help to inform anthrax management and control through the important stakeholder networks that have been developed during this project.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Anthrax is described by the World Health Organization as a disease that “perpetuates poverty by attacking not only people’s health but also their livelihoods.” In the Serengeti region of Tanzania, where income is largely based on agriculture and tourism, regular outbreaks of anthrax in both livestock and wildlife have devastating impacts. Understanding and controlling the spread of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterial agent causing anthrax, in this environment is currently impeded by a lack of data on the genetic diversity and appropriate typing schemes to resolve fine-scale genetic differences. I propose to quantify the genomic diversity of B. anthracis in the Serengeti region of Tanzania and to use these data to develop molecular diagnostic and genotyping tools that can be implemented locally to facilitate surveillance. First, whole-genome sequencing will be performed on isolates obtained from wildlife and livestock carcasses and environmental samples collected through passive surveillance. Bioinformatic analyses will enable single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to be identified that can distinguish among locally-circulating B. anthracis strains and test for epidemiological links between outbreaks. Based on these SNPs, a multi-locus typing scheme will be developed. To further support local laboratory capacity, I will apply recently developed techniques to obtain high quality genomic DNA from environmental samples without the need for bacterial culture, thus greatly reducing the biosafety risks associated with anthrax surveillance in low-biocontainment facilities. This project will generate important baseline information on the diversity and transmission of B. anthracis in the Serengeti. Additionally, facilitating the local implementation of molecular surveillance will eventually allow us to determine the circulation patterns of B. anthracis at the wildlife-livestock interface in Tanzania, providing essential information for anthrax management in sub-Saharan Africa.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW · GlasgowCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/659223
- https://naturallyspeaking.blog/2016/07/13/episode-43-living-with-anthrax/
Data: CORDIS, © European Union