| Autor: |
Bartlow AW; Andrew W. Bartlow, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM., Middlebrook EA; Earl A. Middlebrook, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM., Dichosa AEK; Armand E. K. Dichosa, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM., Kayiwa J; John Kayiwa, PhD, is a Senior Laboratory Manager, Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda., Nassuna CA; Charity A. Nassuna is Laboratory Technologists, Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda., Kiggundu G; Gladys Kiggundu is Laboratory Technologists, Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda., Fair JM; Jeanne M. Fair, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM. |
| Abstrakt: |
Pathogens threaten human lives and disrupt economies around the world. This has been clearly illustrated by the current COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks in livestock and food crops. To manage pathogen emergence and spread, cooperative engagement programs develop and strengthen biosafety, biosecurity, and biosurveillance capabilities among local researchers to detect pathogens. In this case study, we describe the efforts of a collaboration between the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Uganda Virus Research Institute, the primary viral diagnostic laboratory in Uganda, to implement and ensure the sustainability of sequencing for biosurveillance. We describe the process of establishing this capability along with the lessons learned from both sides of the partnership to inform future cooperative engagement efforts in low- and middle-income countries. We found that by strengthening sequencing capabilities at the Uganda Virus Research Institute before the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute was able to successfully sequence SARS-CoV-2 samples and provide data to the scientific community. We highlight the need to strengthen and sustain capabilities through in-country training, collaborative research projects, and trust. |
