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

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.

Training of Principal Investigators and Entomology Technicians

The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) conducted hands-on practical training on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for entomological surveillance for Principal Investigators and Entomology Technicians for proposed vector surveillance sentinel sites in Ogun, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, Kaduna and Delta states.
The training is part of the ongoing plan to scale up Vector Surveillance activities in the country. The older sites of Kwara and Osun were also part of the training due to the New Nets Evaluation project which is scheduled to take place in these two states as pilot locations for the project.
The objectives of the training amongst others include:

  1. To equip the participants with the details of the protocol for entomological surveillance activities
  2. Provide hands-on practical guidance on the SOPs for entomological surveillance
  3. Provide participants with details on mosquitoes rearing techniques and insectary management
  4. Share expectations/roles/responsibilities of the stakeholders in entomological surveillance.
    Each state was represented by 3 persons- 1 PI and 2 Ento Techs while Kaduna state had a Co-PI and an SMEP personnel in attendance. The new sites are expected to conduct insecticide resistance monitoring activities only except Kaduna which will be conducting both IRM & Monthly mosquito collection. The workshop was therefore structured to include both theatrical and practical sessions supported by experience sharing from the older sites (Kwara and Osun).
    The DG-NIMR Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako who graced a session, urged participants to put in their very best while emphasizing on the need to push for home-grown technologies.
    As a follow-up to the training, the number of sentinel sites in the country is expected to increase from the current 16 to 24 states. The participants are equipped to commence activities at the various sites to add to national data on status of insecticide resistance across the country. In addition, data on mosquito vector biology will add to the collection of information in the Malaria Data Repository as well as the National Bionomics and Bioinformatics.

Date: 20th- 24th July, 2020

Venue: Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba-Lagos.

STANBIC IBTC DONATES TEST KITS TO NIMR

As part of its Corporate social responsibility efforts and the desire to increase COVID-19 testing efforts in Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC represented by Mr. Adebanjo Otukomaya, Zone Head, Lagos Mainland and Dr. Sylvanus Jatto donated test kits to NIMR on 16th July 2020. According to Dr. Sylvanus Jatto, the Medical and Wellness Consultant at STANBIC IBTC, the donation is in recognition of NIMR’s drive-through COVID-19 testing efforts.

In his response, the Director General of NIMR, Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako thanked Stanbic IBTC for the donation. He also emphasized the importance of receiving support from private organizations in augmenting government efforts towards flattening the COVID-19 curve, as well as supporting research and development in Nigeria. He expressed the hope for further collaboration with the Bank and other well-meaning organizations. According to the DG, NIMR will not relent in her various commitments towards curbing the pandemic.