Human monkeypox (MPX) is a smallpox-like disease primarily reported in the rainforests of Central Africa. Until recently, MPX was considered a rare zoonotic infection in humans; however the dramatic increase in reports of human MPX over the last decade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and recent outbreaks in the United States, Republic of Congo, and Sudan underscore the importance of understanding tie capacity and geographic range for disease emergence. To study the risk factors driving MPX geographic distribution, prevalence, and risk of future emergence necessitates an interdisciplinary approach. The candidate proposes to undertake three primary career development activities: 1) training in remote sensing and spatial statistics; 2) training to understand the fundamental aspects of specimen processing and analysis, including virus growth, PCR, sequencing of MPX virus specimens; and 3) training in advanced epidemiologic methods to integrate ecologic and laboratory data with epidemiologic and clinical data/These training objectives are linked to the following research objectives: 1) to determine if prevalence and geographic distribution of human MPX has increased over time; 2) to identify behavioral, demographic and environmental risk factors for human MPX infection; and 3) to understand the role played by differential transmission and evolution of MPX. The research component will supplement and leverage a unique collection of biological specimens, existing research infrastructure in DRC, and access to remotely sensed data sets. The proposed research represents the first study in two decades to assess the prevalence of MPX in an endemic region and to establish if the epidemiology of the virus has changed over time. Together, the career development and research activities proposed in this application will advance understanding of the variables that drive emergence of human MPX and support the development of the candidate as a productive independent investigator with the capacity to study fundamental ecologic, epidemiologic and biologic drivers of viral emergence. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
1K01AI074810-01A1
Application #
7471950
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee (MID)
Program Officer
Challberg, Mark D
Project Start
2008-05-15
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2008-05-15
Budget End
2009-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$121,770
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Doshi, Reena H; Alfonso, Vivian H; Mukadi, Patrick et al. (2018) Low Varicella Zoster Virus Seroprevalence Among Young Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pediatr Infect Dis J 37:138-143
Hoff, Nicole A; Doshi, Reena H; Colwell, Brian et al. (2017) Evolution of a Disease Surveillance System: An Increase in Reporting of Human Monkeypox Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2001-2013. Int J Trop Dis Health 25:
Rimoin, Anne W; Alfonso, Vivian Helena; Hoff, Nicole A et al. (2017) Human Exposure to Wild Animals in the Sankuru Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ecohealth 14:552-563
Rimoin, Anne W; Hoff, Nicole A; Fischer Walker, Christa L et al. (2011) Treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis with once-daily amoxicillin versus intramuscular benzathine penicillin G in low-resource settings: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 50:535-42
Djoko, Cyrille F; Rimoin, Anne W; Vidal, Nicole et al. (2011) High HIV type 1 group M pol diversity and low rate of antiretroviral resistance mutations among the uniformed services in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 27:323-9
Rimoin, Anne W; Walker, Christa L Fischer; Hamza, Hala S et al. (2010) The utility of rapid antigen detection testing for the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis in low-resource settings. Int J Infect Dis 14:e1048-53
Pike, Brian L; Saylors, Karen E; Fair, Joseph N et al. (2010) The origin and prevention of pandemics. Clin Infect Dis 50:1636-40
Djoko, Cyrille F; Wolfe, Nathan D; Vidal, Nicole et al. (2010) HIV type 1 pol gene diversity and genotypic antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 26:1027-31
Rimoin, Anne W; Mulembakani, Prime M; Johnston, Sara C et al. (2010) Major increase in human monkeypox incidence 30 years after smallpox vaccination campaigns cease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:16262-7