University of Buea
Validation of two Onchocerca volvulus secretory antigens in urine for diagnosis of onchocerciasis
Are the identified antigens, CABDOU 1 and CABDOU 2 suitable markers for diagnosis of onchocerciasis in urine?
Xenomonitoring utilisant une nouvelle technique qPCR plus sensible : un outil endgame pour la surveillance intégrée de la filariose lymphatique en post- administration médicamenteuse de masse
1. Has LF transmission resumed after the cessation of mass treatment with ivermectin plus albendazole in the cross-border areas of the Sikasso region which borders Guinea Conakry?
2. Are the new LF evaluation based on routine blood sample collection and detection of infection by qPCR in mosquito vectors captured in cross-border villages in the Sikasso region more sensitive than the TAS strategy?
Development of a dipstick test for assessment of elimination of human onchocerciasis
Can OvMANE1 chimeric antigen specifically recognize O. volvulus antigens in human body fluids?
Rational design of sensitive and specific antigen-capture immunodiagnostic tests for onchocerciasis
Will the rational selection of targets for onchocerciasis diagnosis lead to the generation of more robust, specific, and sensitive diagnostic tools?
Serological characterization of Ov-17-IRP and Ov-MANE-1 antigens in view of developing an antigen capture test for human onchocerciasis
What is the diagnostic potential of Ov-17-IRP and Ov-MANE-1 antigens for diagnosis of individual patients or for mapping or monitoring onchocerciasis elimination programs?
Impact of health education on STH reinfection in indigenous communities in the East Region of Cameroon
1. What is the baseline prevalence of STH in the Baka community?
2. What is the level of knowledge of the Baka people with respect to STH
3. What is the impact of health education on reinfection rates and parasite loads of STHs in the Baka community?
Integrated Remapping of lymphatic filariasis and loiasis (Cameroon)
Defining what are the appropriate tools to map LF in Loa endemic areas. Identifying if there is a Loa infection threshold that triggers the cross-reactivity in the ICT cards.
Onchocerciasis LAMP assay to optimize diagnostics and sampling strategies for low-prevalence settings in Cameroon
1. Can the O-150 LAMP assay be established on whole blood? 2. Can the O-150 qPCR methodology be adapted for human sampling?
Secondary
1. How does the performance of the O-150 LAMP compare to the O-150 qPCR assay?
2. What threshold be used to define positive vs negative results for both assays?
3. Can deep sequencing reveal over potential biomarkers for further investigation?
Through funding from the Wellcome Trust to develop a global atlas of podoconiosis. We aim to advance new knowledge on the geographical distribution and spatial epidemiology of the disease.
i. Conduct national cross-sectional surveys in selected countries to validate the environmental predictive model developed using the mapping data in Ethiopia.
ii. Create evidence consensus maps, develop risk maps and ground-truthing work and delineate the spatial distribution and geographical limits of podoconiosis globally.
iii. Estimate the global burden of podoconiosis by quantifying the number affected, the population at risk and DALYs attributable.
iv. Estimate how much it will cost to control or eliminate podoconiosis globally.