History of our  Global Infectious Disease Training program

 

Current project is a continuation of our previous two consecutive GID training programs (2005 – 2018) led by  Prof. Serap Aksoy (PI) on Tsetse Transmitted African Trypanosomiasis (D43TW007391) with support from National Institute of Health  Fogarty International Center (NIH-FIC), USA to Yale School of Public Health(YSPH) in collaboration with Biotechnology Research Institute of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (BioRI-KALRO) in Kenya. The program focused on establishing research capacity around control of human and animal African trypanosomiasis (known as HAT and AAT, respectively) in east Africa. The HAT and AAT, have plagued human health, nutrition and agricultural development in sub-Sahara Africa (sSA) for centuries and is caused by parasitic African trypanosomes transmitted via bite of an infected tsetse fly. Control of the tsetse fly vector is particularly relevant for HAT control ,especially at this time when active surveillance efforts to detect patients for treatment are relaxed due to the high cost associated with these efforts. The AAT is rampant in livestock inhabiting tsetse-infested areas throughout the continent.


The  previous awards helped build significant research capacity in tsetse and trypanosomiasis research and transferred knowledge on the recent advancements in Vector Biology (VB) to scientists at BioRI-KALRO,  Gulu University in Uganda and several collaborating institutions in eastern Africa.  Trainees in the program published extensively in peer-reviewed journals [1-44]).  Focus of our previous training activities included use of population genetics and genomics data to improve field interventions [45 - 49], and olfactory biology to identify new odorant attractants to improve the efficacy of targets, baits [50-54], and repellents for protection of livestock and potentially humans from tsetse flies [55]. Researchers trained at BioRI-KALRO and Gulu University have been conducting population genetics studies to better define tsetse population movements to advance implementation of national VC programs [4, 5, 7, 19, 25, 26, 56, 57]. In addition, some of our prior trainees investigated detection of parasites in the tsetse vector before emergence of disease in the mammalian host as a method for disease surveillance [58 -63]. Because both laboratory and field data suggest that the vector microbiome can influence vector competence and be important for interfering with parasite transmission or evaluating risk for transmission in natural populations, we also provided training in this field [64 -75]. A strong effort is underway to establish large insectaries on the continent to initiate application of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for tsetse elimination [76-78]. The BioRI-KALRO  and its National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) collaborator in Uganda, have been leading the efforts on this technology in collaboration with national programs and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). To supplement this program, our trainees have also investigated paratransgenic approaches to render release tsetse flies resistant to trypanosomes. A number of tools, such as improved mini-targets have been tested by our program participants in the field to enhance tsetse control [79 -81], and new odorant(s) discovered and tested to enhance the efficacy of traps and targets, or repel tsetse fly vectors from livestock [38, 40] by BioRI-KALRO. Our trainees have also started unravelling the chemosensory aspects of tsetse olfaction [30, 56] to ultimately help further improve efficacy of these odor-baited technologies at BioRI-KALRO. All of these translational achievements have accompanied the provisioning of mentorship and theoretical and bench-based training of numerous young scientists (MSc and PhD level) who will become a critical component of tsetse control strategies in east Africa.


Overall, we mentored, trained and graduated 12 PhD students, five postdoctoral scientists, and several MSc and intern students, published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, secured two scientific innovation patents and considerable collaborative funding for research in Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMIC) laboratories. The funding include three NIH grants to YSPH in collaboration with BioRI-KALRO on molecular and functional characterization of olfaction genes in tsetse flies (NIH-R03TW009444), evidence based control strategies of sleeping sickness vectors (R03-TW008413) and control of tsetse fly transmitted diseases in Kenya (NIH-U01-AI115648) The funding also included three NIH grants to YSPH in collaboration with Gulu University on factors in emergence of new sleeping sickness foci In uganda (NIH-R03-TW008755), next generation sequencing of east African trypanosomes to expand the molecular (NIH-R21-AI094615) and evolutionary genetics of tsetse and its symbionts (NIH-R01AI068932)


The current training program is supported  by NIH-FIC and is focused on supporting  vector biology training for sustainable control of vector borne diseases in east Africa. The goal of the program is to cultivate a network of east African scientists and academicians with skills necessary to undertake Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (VBZD) research in order to 1) locally manage long-term VBZD control and 2) successfully develop and implement state-of-the-art vector control strategies within regional control program.


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