Dr
Francis Zeukeng
Project Title
Developing advanced Genomics and Bioinformatics skills and application to uncover route of transmission of Buruli ulcer in Africa.
EDCTP Project
TMA2019PF-2693
EDCTP Program
EDCTP2
EDCTP Project Call
EDCTP-AREF Preparatory Fellowships (PF)
Project Objectives
The fellowship primarily aimed to build capacity in advanced Genomics and Bioinformatics with application to Buruli ulcer disease.
Study Design
[1] Capacity building in advanced Genomics technologies. [2] Capacity building in advanced Bioinformatics. [3] Population genomics study of M. ulcerans isolates from Buruli ulcer endemic areas in Cameroon. [4] Deepen research partnerships and develop new networking.
Project Summary
Genomics and Bioinformatics have enabled scientists to make significant advances in diverse research areas. However, in the African National Research Systems (NARS), extremely wide disparities exist in human resources and infrastructural capacities to access and fully exploit the application scope of Genomics and Bioinformatics. Here, we aim to build capacity in advanced Genomics technologies and Bioinformatics and generate factual genomic datasets necessary to design future research proposals that aim to uncover routes of transmission of Buruli ulcer in Africa, and to collapse the institution’s gaps in high-throughput sequencing (NGS) techniques and Bioinformatics analysis of NGS data. Overall, the study outcome is expected to enhance capacities for emergency preparedness and continent response in understanding route(s) of transmission of Buruli ulcer disease.
Host Organisation
| Department | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Bacteriology | Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana | Ghana |
| The Biotechnology Centre | University of Yaounde 1 | Cameroon |
Current Organisation
The Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon
Current Job Title
Postdoc Fellow
Biography
Publications
Background: Malaria remains endemic in Cameroon, with heterogeneous transmission related to eco-climatic variations,
vector
diversity
and spatial distribution.
The
intensification
of malaria
prevention
and control
through
the free
distribution
of insecticide-treated
nets in recent
years
may
have
altered
the composition, geographic
distribution
and natural
infection
rate
of Anopheles
species,
with implications for
malaria
transmission dynamics.
The
present
study seeks
to
assess the vectorial
diversity,
dynamics and infectivity
across
different
seasons and altitudes in relationship
to
parasite
prevalence
around
the slopes of Mount
Cameroon,
southwestern
region.
Method: Mosquitoes were sampled (indoors and outdoors) in 11 eco-epidemiological settings at low (18–197 m), intermediate (371–584 m) and high (740–1067 m) altitude by nightly human landing catches. The mosquitoes were identified morphologically and Anopheles gambiae sibling species identified by PCR. Parity status was ascertained by examining the ovaries and the entomological inoculation rates (EIR) determined by Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite
antigen ELISA of the head-thorax.
The
prevalence
of Plasmodium
infection
across
target
communities was assessed
using rapid diagnostic
tests.
Results: A total of 7327 (18.0 mosquitoes/trap/night) mosquitoes were trapped, mainly during the rainy season (5678, 77.5%) and at low altitude (3669, 50.1%). Anopheles spp. (5079, 69.3%) was the most abundant genera and An. gambiae complex (2691, 36.7%) the major vector, varying with altitude (χ
2
= 183.87, df = 8, P < 0.001) and season (χ
2
Parasites & Vectors
= 28.14, df = 4, P < 0.001). Only An. gambiae (s.s.) was identified following molecular analysis of An. gambiae complex
siblings.
The
overall
biting peak for
An.
gambiae
complex was 2—3 a.m. Anopheles
cinctus
was the most abundant
secondary
vector
in the area.
The
average
EIR in the area
was 2.08 infective
bites
per person per night (ib/p/n), higher
at low
(2.45 ib/p/n) than at intermediate
altitude (1.39 ib/p/n) and during
the rainy
(1.76 ib/p/n) compared
to
the
dry
season (0.34 ib/p/n). Anopheles
funestus
was most infectious
overall
(28.1%, 16/57) while An.
gambiae
had the highest
inoculation rates
averaging
1.33 ib/p/n. Most
Anopheles
species across
all altitudes and seasons were
parous,
highest
in communities with the highest proportion
of malaria
parasite
infections.
Conclusion: Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) remains the major malaria vector in the area and An. cinctus possibly a secondary
vector
of the disease in the slopes of Mt. Cameroon.
The
seasonal and altitudinal effects
on the distribution
of these mosquitoes may have implications for the transmission of malaria and its control strategies in the area. Regular monitoring of the bionomics of local Anopheles vector species and targeted control interventions in the ‘hotspots’ is necessary to curb the prevalence of the infection and incidence of disease.