Open AccessHarnessing technology and portability to conduct molecular epidemiology of endemic pathogens in resource-limited settings
Author(s) -
Christina L. Faust,
Kirstyn Brunker,
Diana Ajambo,
Mary R. Ryan,
Moses Arinaitwe,
Candia Rowel,
Robert Mandela Wangoola,
Eddie M. Wampande,
Andrew Guma,
Moses Adriko,
Poppy H. L. Lamberton,
Edridah M. Tukahebwa,
Albert Mugenyi,
Charles Waiswa
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
transactions of the royal society of tropical medicine and hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1878-3503
pISSN - 0035-9203
DOI - 10.1093/trstmh/traa086
Subject(s) - neglected tropical diseases , timeline , software portability , environmental resource management , biology , data science , public health , geography , medicine , computer science , environmental science , nursing , archaeology , programming language
Improvements in genetic and genomic technology have enabled field-deployable molecular laboratories and these have been deployed in a variety of epidemics that capture headlines. In this editorial, we highlight the importance of building physical and personnel capacity in low and middle income countries to deploy these technologies to improve diagnostics, understand transmission dynamics and provide feedback to endemic communities on actionable timelines. We describe our experiences with molecular field research on schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis and rabies and urge the wider tropical medicine community to embrace these methods and help build capacity to benefit communities affected by endemic infectious diseases.