We propose to establish an international Research Training Program shared between The Ohio State University Health Sciences Center and Institutes of Higher Learning in East Africa. The long-term goal of this program is to establish sustainable research and training capacity for foodborne pathogen research and training in eastern African academic institutes (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia;University of Nairobi, Kenya and Sokoine University, Tanzania). Foodborne and waterborne diseases such as invasive salmonellosis, animal-borne tuberculosis, viral food/waterborne pathogenand Shiga-toxin producing E. coli are major public health issues with a high morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the research training capacities in the region are extremely weak. This program will build on existing pilot collaborative research efforts in foodborne pathogen research, particularly salmonellosis and antimicrobial resistance and based on a regional consoritum and workshop recently conducted in Eastern Africa with OSU and all partner institutes. The specific mission of this program is to train the future trainers (non-PhD holding faculty members at the institutes and laboratory support staff) using multi-disciplinary approaches such as molecular epidemiology, immunology and disease modeling. The ultimate goal is to develop a critical mass of scientists capable of effectively conducting research and training on foodborne pathogens towards prevention and control. This research training program will be conducted using vivo Tracks: Track 1 is a sandwich format pre-doctoral training for 4 PhD and 2 MSc. Trainees will have access to multitudes of opportunities at OSU leveraged with well-funded research areas including rotavirus, salmonellosis, tuberculosis and E. coli 0157:H7. Track 2 will involve a short-term training that will target laboratory technologists and will be conducted at a reputable central training and laboratory facility: Int'l Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Ethiopia and Kenya. This research training program also will introduce a culture of intra-regional collaboration among scientists within the three eastern African countries as well as inter-disciplinary collaboration among stakeholders including veterinarians, physicians and environmental health scientists to effectively address major foodborne pathogen issues.

Public Health Relevance

Foodborne pathogens are major public health concerns worldwide. Currently, more than 75% of newly emerging infectious diseases is known to be zoonotic and many are foodborne in nature. This research training program will target three countries in east Africa to develop their research and training capacity in this very important area.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
International Research Training Grants (D43)
Project #
5D43TW008650-03
Application #
8264988
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-ICP2-B (50))
Program Officer
Sina, Barbara J
Project Start
2010-06-01
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$147,640
Indirect Cost
$9,002
Name
Ohio State University
Department
Veterinary Sciences
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
832127323
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43210
Eguale, Tadesse; Birungi, Josephine; Asrat, Daniel et al. (2017) Genetic markers associated with resistance to beta-lactam and quinolone antimicrobials in non-typhoidal Salmonella isolates from humans and animals in central Ethiopia. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 6:13
Eguale, Tadesse; Engidawork, Ephrem; Gebreyes, Wondwossen A et al. (2016) Fecal prevalence, serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonellae in dairy cattle in central Ethiopia. BMC Microbiol 16:20
Eguale, Tadesse; Gebreyes, Wondwossen A; Asrat, Daniel et al. (2015) Non-typhoidal Salmonella serotypes, antimicrobial resistance and co-infection with parasites among patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis 15:497
Medardus, Julius J; Molla, Bayleyegn Z; Nicol, Matthew et al. (2014) In-feed use of heavy metal micronutrients in U.S. swine production systems and its role in persistence of multidrug-resistant salmonellae. Appl Environ Microbiol 80:2317-25
Amimo, Joshua O; Okoth, Edward; Junga, Joseph O et al. (2014) Molecular detection and genetic characterization of kobuviruses and astroviruses in asymptomatic local pigs in East Africa. Arch Virol 159:1313-9
Kashoma, Isaac P; Kumar, Anand; Sanad, Yasser M et al. (2014) Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in commercial turkey flocks: a longitudinal study. Foodborne Pathog Dis 11:850-60
Eguale, Tadesse; Marshall, Joanna; Molla, Bayleyegn et al. (2014) Association of multicellular behaviour and drug resistance in Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from animals and humans in Ethiopia. J Appl Microbiol 117:961-971
Sisay, Zufan; Wang, Qiuhong; Oka, Tomoichiro et al. (2013) Prevalence and molecular characterization of porcine enteric caliciviruses and first detection of porcine kobuviruses in US swine. Arch Virol 158:1583-8
Amimo, J O; Vlasova, A N; Saif, L J (2013) Prevalence and genetic heterogeneity of porcine group C rotaviruses in nursing and weaned piglets in Ohio, USA and identification of a potential new VP4 genotype. Vet Microbiol 164:27-38
Amimo, J O; Vlasova, A N; Saif, L J (2013) Detection and genetic diversity of porcine group A rotaviruses in historic (2004) and recent (2011 and 2012) swine fecal samples in Ohio: predominance of the G9P[13] genotype in nursing piglets. J Clin Microbiol 51:1142-51

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