Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is estimated to have infected one third of the world's population based on reports from surveys on positive skin tuberculin tests. There are 22 high-burden countries globally, among them Ethiopia, accounting for 80% of all active tuberculosis cases. The clonal relatedness of strains circulating in humans and other potential reservoirs is poorly understood. Molecular epidemiology is gaining importance in tracking strains and addressing key public health challenges to prevent and control communicable diseases in Ethiopia, including tuberculosis (TB). Ethiopian pastoralist populations have been neglected despite their vulnerability to various infectious diseases. Surveillance of TB in these areas is also minimal. As pastoralists rely on livestock products, a significant, largely unexplored challenge is the potentially high level of transmission of tuberculosis between livestock and people. There is currently no effective vaccine protecting humans against TB. The Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine consisting of attenuated Mycobacterium bovis preparations is the only approved vaccine against TB, but no longer provides protective immunity in some populations. Another challenge is the need of prolonged antibiotic treatment which, if not properly completed, accelerates the development of Mtb multi-drug resistance. Major problems in high TB disease burden countries are human and environmental factors that contribute to a weakened immune system and can increase susceptibility to Mtb infection, recurrence of latent infection and high morbidity and mortality. Modern genomics tools will considerably impact the knowledge of transmission dynamics, the extent of strain diversity and molecular interactions of TB with its host environments. In the proposed partnership between Addis Ababa University (AAU) and J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), the objective is to build genomics capacity at AAU, with a focus on the typing of strains of Mtb and M. bovis using Illumina Nextgen sequencing technologies and, in demonstration projects, understanding the relationships of active TB disease with host components such as the human respiratory microbiome and protein-based analysis of immune responses in the respiratory tract. This proposal includes innovative systems biology research as well as a program training Ethiopian scientists in genomics disciplines and applications to infectious diseases. 2.

Public Health Relevance

. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a human pathogen causing a disease considered to be among the world's most serious public health problems. Of particular concern are the tuberculosis epidemics in African countries with high levels of HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and poverty. Our objective is to use technologies known as genomics to understand in more detail how a weakened immune system and microbes that live in the human respiratory tract affect the probability of contracting tuberculosis and disease progression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01HG007472-03
Application #
8904020
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHG1-HGR-P (M2))
Program Officer
Struewing, Jeffery P
Project Start
2013-09-20
Project End
2016-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$206,567
Indirect Cost
$15,301
Name
Addis Ababa University
Department
Type
DUNS #
850507858
City
Addis Ababa
State
Country
Ethiopia
Zip Code
1176
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