We focus on three main areas of research:
Malaria and the malaria-transmitting vectors
Research activities related to this topic aim to i) determine the epidemiology and physiopathology of malaria, ii) study the biology of vectors and evaluate the efficiency of anti-vector interventions, and iii) develop and/or evaluate new products as potential vaccine candidate antigens, diagnostic tools, and alternative treatments.
HIV and co-morbidities
This research topic covers three highly-complementary aspects. These include the virological aspect that studies the trends in the prevalence, genetic diversity, and evolution of co-circulating HIV variants in Cameroon. The epidemiological aspect that i) evaluates the HIV prevention measures, ii) determines the feasibility of early antiretroviral therapy of HIV among HIV-infected infants in Cameroon (PEDIACAM study cohort), and iii) evaluates the relative response of HIV-infected and non-infected infants to the vaccines of the Expanded Program of Immunization in Cameroon. The comorbidity aspect studies the genetic diversity and evaluates the new tools for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of TB and hepatitis B, C, D and E infections in Cameroon.
Emerging/re-emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance
This includes the study of the prevalence and genetic diversity of respiratory viruses and bacteria, enteric and neurotropic viruses, arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fever viruses, as well as the molecular determinants underlining their phenotypic variations. Such phenotypic variations include antimicrobial resistance, notably against HIV, TB and other infections.
Results
Among our achievements to date:
- Development of a LAMP PCR for point-of-care diagnosis of malaria,
- Characterization of new mutations of the K13 gene as markers of artemisinin resistance of Plasmodium falciparum in Cameroun,
- Documentation of the feasibility of early antiretroviral therapy of HIV-infected infants in Cameroon,
- Determination of the national prevalence of hepatitis B and C and evaluation of a LAMP PCR for point-of-care TB diagnosis,
- Description of the genetic landscape and the evolution of arboviruses, and respiratory, enteric and neurotropic viruses circulating in Cameroon, where hitherto unknown virus types, phylogenetic lineages, genotypes and recombinant forms were documented,
- Determination of the evolutionary history and phylogeography of resistant Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and multi-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype typhii in the Gulf of Guinea.
Collaborative projects
We work with programs and research organizations on various projects:
- Pasteur Institute of Paris and other members of the Pasteur Institutes International Network (PIIN): In addition to collaborative research projects and international courses, we participate in a biobanking consortium with specific departments of the Pasteur Institutes in Paris and around the world.
- Expanded Programs of Immunization (Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe and Chad): We participate in disease surveillance and surveillance network building, especially for MDR-TB, early diagnosis of HIV in children, poliomyelitis and influenza.
- National Veterinary Laboratory: We take part in research projects and surveillance in the field of zoonotic diseases.
- Faculties of Medicine and Sciences of the universities in Cameroon and other Central African countries: We help train medical doctors and post-graduate students.