Training and Research on Arboviruses and Zoonoses In Nigeria and Sierra Leone (TRAIN)

摘要 新出现的病毒性疾病构成了全球对人类健康的几个最大风险，西非是一个 震源和震中。这些包括节肢动物传播的病毒（虫媒病毒），如基孔肯雅热， 寨卡病毒和黄热病与非洲起源和古代和近代传播到亚洲和美洲的历史 引发大规模流行病登革热在非洲也越来越被认为是一个主要的公共卫生问题。 在过去十年中，非洲人畜共患出血性病毒也造成了前所未有的爆发。2014年， 埃博拉病毒引起的西非第一次出血热流行蔓延到几个国家 包括塞拉利昂，这是迄今为止有记录以来最具破坏性的丝状病毒爆发， 死亡人数拉沙病毒每年在非洲造成估计10万至30万例出血热病例， 在尼日利亚造成了2018-2019年前所未有的疫情。这些人畜共患病病毒的机制 沿着对他们真正疾病负担和各种临床疾病的理解， 后遗症结局。为了应对这些挑战，我们将培养新一代西非科学家 通过多学科科学和公共卫生，预测、预防和控制新出现的病毒性疾病 训练利用我们的西非新发传染病中心（WAC-EID，NIAID U 01 AI 151801）， 西非杰出的研究领导者，以及在新兴病毒性疾病方面的专业知识 在得克萨斯大学医学分支（UTMB），我们将为年轻科学家提供多学科培训 来自两所一流大学：塞拉利昂的恩贾拉大学和尼日利亚的乔斯大学。培训的目的 以及尼日利亚和塞拉利昂的虫媒病毒和人畜共患病研究（TRAIN）包括：1.提供一般 在恩贾拉大学和乔斯大学为参加当地研究生课程的硕士/博士生提供现场培训; 2.在UTMB提供关于专业知识转移的最先进方法和技术的专业培训， 塞拉利昂和尼日利亚;在Njala和Jos大学提供现场研究培训，以确保成功 该计划的地方实施，其中将包括实验室技术人员/管理人员的教育， 其他; 4。将学员纳入WAC-EID的研究计划，以获得监督方面的实践经验 活动、诊断和数据管理。每年5名受训人员将参加短期、中期和长期培训， 在UTMB和W.非洲培训活动将包括教学课程、在线模块， 现场培训，分子/病毒学技术，包括动物模型和发病机理研究，生物安全 培训和实验室管理教育。在完成我们的培训计划后，这些年轻的科学家 将在监测方面发挥关键作用，以更好地了解该地区新出现的病毒的传播情况， 发病机制、病毒发现、流行传播、致病机理及防治对策 缓解新出现的病毒威胁。当地的培训计划旨在实现可持续发展， 研究和培训伙伴关系将使整个区域的科学和公共卫生广泛受益。

ABSTRACT Emerging viral diseases comprise several of the greatest global risks to human health, and West Africa is a source and epicenter for several. These include arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), such as chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever with African origin and both ancient and recent histories of spread to Asia and the Americas to initiate massive epidemics. Dengue also increasingly recognized in Africa as a major public health problem. Zoonotic African hemorrhagic viruses also caused unprecedented outbreaks during the past decade. In 2014, the first West African epidemic of hemorrhagic fever attributed to Ebola virus spread to several countries including Sierra Leone, representing by far the most devastating filoviral outbreak on record with over 11,000 fatalities. Lassa virus, causing an estimated 100,000-300,000 hemorrhagic fever cases in Africa annually, produced an unprecedented 2018-2019 epidemic in Nigeria. The mechanisms whereby these zoonotic viruses emerge remain obscure along with understanding of their true disease burden and varied clinical disease and sequelae outcomes. To address these challenges, we will develop a new generation of West African scientists to predict, prevent and contain emerging viral diseases through multidisciplinary scientific and public health training. Leveraging our West African Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (WAC-EID, NIAID U01AI151801), outstanding research leaders in West Africa, and the exceptional breadth of expertise in emerging viral diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), we will provide multidisciplinary training for young scientists from two leading universities: Njala University in Sierra Leone and Jos University in Nigeria. The aims of Training and Research on Arboviruses and Zoonoses In Nigeria and Sierra Leone (TRAIN) include: 1. Provide general on-site training at Njala and Jos Universities to Master’s/PhD students enrolled in the local graduate programs; 2. Provide specialized training at UTMB on the most advanced methods and techniques for expertise transfer to Sierra Leone and Nigeria; 3. Provide on-site research training at Njala and Jos Universities to ensure successful local implementation of the program, which will include education of laboratory technicians/managers among others; 4. Integrate trainees into the WAC-EID’s research programs to gain hands-on experience in surveillance activities, diagnostics and data management. Five trainees per year will participate in short-, medium-, and long- term training phases at UTMB and in W. Africa. Training activities will include didactic courses, online modules, field training, molecular/virological techniques including the study of animal models and pathogenesis, biosafety training, and lab management education. Upon the completion of our training program, these young scientists will play critical roles in surveillance to better understand the circulation of emerging viruses in the region, mechanisms of emergence, virus discovery, epidemic transmission, pathogenesis, and countermeasures to mitigate emerging viral threats. The local training programs are designed to be sustainable, and the 3-way research and training partnerships will broadly benefit science and public health throughout the region.