Investigating artemisinin resistance

Investigating Artemisinin Resistance in Nigerian isolates of Plasmodium Falciparum

Malaria control gained traction after the introduction of artemisinin-based combination treatment. Unfortunately, artemisinin (ART) resistance has been reported in South-East Asia (SEA) and there are emerging reports of delayed ART sensitivity in African parasites, suggesting imminent treatment failure. As replacement antimalarial drugs are yet unavailable, monitoring artemisinin resistance in African parasites and understanding the markers of such adaptation will be important to stop resistance in its tracks. Kelch-13 gene mutations are the markers of ART resistance in SEA. However, these markers do not provide phenotypic evidence of resistance in African isolates. This suggests that mechanisms driving ART tolerance in African parasites could be independent of Kelch-13 markers. In this study, we will assess the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum in their natural human hosts and in vitro. The public health implications of ART-based treatment failure make this proposal very crucial for early detection of ART-tolerant malaria parasites in the country.

  • Funder: EDCTP 
  • Start date: 01 January 2021
  • End date: 31 December 2023
  • Status: Ongoing
  • Members: 1
  • Principal Investigator: Dr Kolapo Oyebola

SARS-CoV-2 PARTIAL GENOME SEQUENCING

A 5-DAY TRAINING WORKSHOP ON SARS-CoV-2 PARTIAL GENOME SEQUENCING.

IMPORTANT DATES
Application Open: Wednesday, 11th November, 2020
Application closes: Midnight of Monday, 7th December, 2020
Training date: Monday – Friday, 7th – 11th December, 2020

APPLICATION FORM
ACCOMODATION FORM
CLICK FOR PAYMENT

TRAINING FACILITATORS’ PROFILES

Dr. B. Iwalokun

Biochemistry / MicrobialScience / Immunogenetics

Field of Research/Specialization

Pathogen genomics (for pathogenesis, AMR, metabolomics, evolution & transmission dynamics elucidation) & host immune response and genetic predisposition analysis (for biomarker discovery) via genomic epidemiology, SNP array, immunophenotyping  and genome-wide analysis studies

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Training co-ordination,
  • Presentation and hands-on supervision.
  • Participants’ networking
  • Training feedback facilitation.

Dr. C. Onwuamah

Population Genomics, Cancer & Diagnostics

Field of Research/Specialization

I am a biomedical research scientist with interest in basic, clinical, and translational research in communicable and non-communicable diseases, within our “omics” era. I am interested in “OMICS” research to understand host-pathogen-environment inter-relationships amenable to developing sustainable health interventions.

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Presentation
  • Hands-on facilitation
  • Pre-Test and Post-Test facilitation
  • Training feedback facilitation

Dr. NM Otuony

Microbiology & Hematology

Field of Research/Specialization

Immunogenetics of HIV disease susceptibility in Nigeria discordant couples

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Presentation
  • Hands-on facilitation
  • Pre-Test and Post-Test facilitation
  • Training feedback facilitation

Dr. AB James

Molecular Biosignalling & Diagnostics

Field of Research/Specialization

Molecular virology of hemorrhagic viruses, oncology, drug discovery, and apoptosis studies

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Presentation
  • Hands-on facilitation
  • Pre-Test and Post-Test facilitation

Dr. M. Fowora

Biochemistry/MolecularBiology/ Biotechnology

Field of Research/Specialization

Molecular Diagnostics and molecular epidemiology of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens.

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Presentation
  • Hands-on facilitation
  • Pre-Test and Post-Test facilitation
  • Training feedback facilitation

Dr. O. Ajibaye

Biochemistry/Molecular Parasitology/Immunogenomics

Field of Research/Specialization

Immunogenomics of Infectious Diseases of the Tropics, Drug Resistance studies, immune evasion, disease virulence and Host-pathogen relationship Investigation

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Presentation
  • Hands-on facilitation
  • Pre-Test and Post-Test facilitation

Dr. AP Okwuraiwe

Biochemistry/Molecular Diagnostics/Virology

Field of Research/Specialization

Molecular diagnosis of Infectious diseases, viral drug resistance, epigenomics.

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Presentation
  • Hands-on facilitation
  • Pre-Test and Post-Test facilitation

Recent COVID-19 publications by members CRL Technical team

  1. Olalekan A, Iwalokun BA, Akinloye OM, et al (2020). COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test could contain transmission in low- and middle-income countries. Afr J Lab Med. 9(1), a1255
  2. Olalekan A, Iwalokun BA, Akinloye OM, et al (2020). Understanding the Use of Real Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) For Covid-19 Diagnosis. Pan African journal of Life Sciences. 4 : 86-97
  3. Shaibu,J.O., Onwuamah,C.K., James,A.B., Okwuraiwe,A.P., Amoo,O.S., Salu,O.B., Ige,F.A. Okoli,L.C., Ahmed,R.A., Sokei,J., Oyefolu,A.O., Omilabu,S.A., Salako,B.L. and Audu,R.A Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolate SARS-CoV-/human/NGA/NG57752/2020, complete genome 29,760 bp linear RNA. Accession: MT576584.1
  4. Salako,B.L., Audu,R.A., Sunday,O.A., Okwuraiwe,A., Amao,O.; Shaibu,J.O.,Onwuamah,C., James,A., Ajibaye,O., Iwalokun,B., Salu,O., Orenolu,R., Anyanwu,R.,Obaleye,O., Ige,F., Faleye,T.,Abiodun,M., Oni,G. and Olohungbebe,M. Partial Genomic Sequence and Phylogenetic Analysis of SARS-COV-2. Isolated from an Index Case of Coronavirus Disease 2020 in Nigeria. 483 bp linear RNA. Accession MT159778
  5. Amoo, O; Ohihoin, AG; Musa, AZ et al (2020). Implementation of a modified drive-through sampling strategy for SARS-CoV-2-the Nigerian experience. Pan African Medical journal. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.24319
  6. Olufemi Samuel Amoo, Olugbenga Olanrewaju Aina, Azuka Patrick Okwuraiwe, Chika Kingsley Onwuamah, Joseph Ojonugwa Shaibu, Fehintola Ige, Kelly Owaneze, Hammed Olanrewaju Agboola, Dorcas Njeri Kareithi, Tochukwu Ifeanyi Onuigbo, Amaka Stephanie Ikemefuna, Joy Isioma Oraegbu, Ebenezer Olusoji Odewale, Leona Chika Okoli, Olusola Ajibaye, et al., (2020). COVID-19 Spread Patterns Is Unrelated to Malaria Co-Infections in Lagos, Nigeria. Advances in Infectious Diseases. 10:5. DOI 10.4236/aid.2020.105018
  7. Onwuamah CK, Okwuraiwe A, Ahmed RA, Sokei JO, Ponmak J, Okoli LC, Kagurusi BA, Anejo-Okopi J. Laboratory optimization tweaks for Sanger sequencing in a resource-limited setting. J Biomol Tech 2020 Oct 16; jbt.20-3104-006. doi: 10.7171/jbt.20-3104-006. 

  8. Otuonye NM, Olumade TJ, Ojetunde MM, Holdbrooke SA, Ayoola JB1, Itse Yusuf Nyam Iwalokun B, Onwuamah C , Uwandu M et al (2020). Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients in Lagos, Nigeria: A Descriptive Study. MedRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.15.20195412.2

  9. Emelda Chukwu E, Nkiruka Odunukwe, Babatunde Salako, Ngozi Otunoye et al (2020). Determinants of Antimicrobial Use for COVID- 19 Related Symptoms Among Nigerians https://www.editorialmanager.com/heliyon/.

CRL TRAINING SECRETARIAT

Miss. Joy Ayoola

Field of Research/Specialization

Microbiology & Public Health
STI aetiology & Intervention Studies.

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Training materials
  • Distribution & Logistics

Mr. Nyang Yussuf

Field of Research/Specialization

Microbiology & Public Health

Molecular diagnostics development

Partial SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Training role

  • Training materials
  • Distribution & Logistics

Ventilators donated to FMoH

Director General/CEO – NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako (first from right) presented 60 Units of Non-invasive Ventilators to Federal Ministry of Health on 31st August 2020 as part of the institute’s contribution to the fight against COVID -19 pandemic.

The item was received by Dr. Baba Ahmed and his colleague on behalf of the Ministry.