R01AI162826

Translational Studies of Hookworm Infection in Ghana - Project Summary

Hookworm infection is a leading cause of malnutrition and growth delay in poor countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where millions of people are infected with Necator americanus. Data from human studies suggest chronic hookworm infection also impairs routine vaccine efficacy and exacerbates other globally important, co-endemic infectious diseases.

Current strategies to control hookworm rely primarily on mass drug administration of standard anthelmintic drugs, although recent evidence calls into question the long-term effectiveness of this approach to control and eliminate hookworm in endemic populations.

Since 2007, Yale University and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana have collaborated to characterize the epidemiology of hookworm infection in endemic communities. The longitudinal field study proposed in Aim 1 will further probe the epidemiology of hookworm by defining risk factors for infection, response to deworming, and reinfection following treatment in the Bono East Region, Ghana.

Experiments outlined in Aim 2 will be focused on characterizing changes in the frequency of resistance-associated mutations in the N. americanus ss-tubulin gene using next-generation sequencing methods, as well as the impact of drug pressure on genetic diversity and the population genetics of human hookworms in Beposo.

Critical to the detailed study of hookworm pathogenesis is the availability of a facile animal model that is both reproducible and accurately reflects the major clinical features of human disease. Little is known about N. americanus strains originating from populations in Africa, resulting in a significant gap in our understanding of hookworm biology, genomics, and evolution.

Building on experience in maintaining the laboratory model of Ancylostoma ceylanicum hookworms, field isolates of N. americanus cultured from study subjects in Ghana in 2019 have been used to establish patent infections in hamsters. In the experimental studies outlined in Aim 3, clinical parameters and the kinetics of primary infection with the Ghana strain of N. americanus will be fully characterized in the hamster model. Cellular, humoral, and mucosal antibody responses to primary infection, reinfection, and vaccination with hookworm proteins will be defined. In addition, novel proteomic methods will be applied to define human antibody profiles that correlate with infection status, intensity, and risk of reinfection.

The overarching goals of the research outlined in this proposal are (1) to identify factors associated with hookworm infection among people living in Beposo, Ghana, (2) to characterize the impact of deworming pressure on drug resistance markers and genetic diversity of hookworms in Ghana, and (3) to characterize the first laboratory-adapted African strain of N. americanus and optimize its utility for the study of human hookworm epidemiology, pathogenesis, and vaccine development.

Results from these innovative studies will enhance our understanding of hookworm pathogenesis in Africa and inform future development of public health tools to reduce the global burden of this neglected tropical disease.

Yale Univ

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

New Haven, Connecticut 065111984 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 285% from $796,540 to $3,065,354.