Multi-pathogen sero-epidemiology in a national platform Malawi
Supervisor: Dr Antonia Ho, School of Infection & Immunity
Rotation Project:
The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the power of serology in tracking population exposure to an emerging pathogen, SARS-CoV-2. Initiated in 2022, “SEROSURV” is a national sero-surveillance study investigating the epidemiology of important pathogens in Malawi. It comprises annual serial cross-sectional serosurveys at two locations: the urban centres of Blantyre and Lilongwe, and rural sites at Chikwawa and Karonga. Detailed participant metadata are collected at each patient sampling.
This project will characterise the humoral (antibody) response to viral pathogens known to circulate in Malawi, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The project will also investigate potential exposures to emerging pathogens such as the filoviruses Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Marburg virus, while identifying risk factors for pathogen exposure. The serology hub at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research has established multiple assay platforms for serology, from traditional ELISAs to electrochemiluminescence and viral pseudotype-based neutralisation assays. Data generated from the project will be communicated to the Malawi Ministry of Health, informing future strategies for the control and prevention of infectious diseases. The project can include a visit to the project sites in Malawi.