Establishment of a molecular research node in Africa

Relating to objective 1

Partners

No. 1: DBL, Denmark (2 months), Aslak Joergensen (AJ), Christopher Sarnaak (CLS)
No. 2: NHM, United Kingdom (2 months), David Johnston (DJ)
No. 4: ICL, United Kingdom (1 month), Joanne Webster (JW)
No. 5: MU, Uganda (12 months), Silvester Nyakaana (SN)

Responsible

Overall responsible: SN
Infrastructure: SN, DJ
Database: CLS, DJ
Training Development: SN, DJ, AJ

Starting date

October 2006

Time frame

12 months

Deliverables

D1. Establishment of a well equipped laboratory facility capable of handling molecular analyses at internationally accepted standards.

Specific Objectives

1. To enhance the facilities at partner 5 to develop a fully functional molecular biology laboratory with the capacity to conduct state-of-the-art molecular DNA assays. Referencing WP 3-8.
2. To create adequate storage facilities for the collected DNA samples including initial voucher specimen collections. Referencing WP 10-12.
3. To develop a regional capacity to train researchers in use of DNA tools and their application in molecular epidemiology.
4. To develop an electronic molecular genetic database for all the schistosome and snail specimens collected in the various work packages. Referencing WP 2 and all other specimen-based WPs.

Description of work

Establishment of a regional research node will put in place an improved infrastructure for processing DNA extraction, storage, and PCR amplification and characterization assays. Collaborating malacologists and parasitologists who are non-specialists in molecular techniques will be introduced to the potential of molecular methods in transmission studies. In addition molecular researchers will be provided an opportunity to meet and discuss techniques, challenges and future developments at this research node.
Molecular work at this research node will also involve.
1. Isolation, characterization and optimization of new and already existent genetic markers for analysis of schistosome-snail specimens collected in the other work packages of the project.
2. PCR-based microsatellite genotyping of schistosome-snail species collected from different study sites
3. DNA sequencing of selected gene loci for population structure and phylogenetic studies.

The work and data generated at this research node will contribute to the establishment of a detailed electronic inventory / database of DNA samples of snails collected in other work packages.