SABIOT Project

Project Duration: 24 months ( Starting  March 2021 – February 2023)

About the Project

The SABIOT project is part of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 2 (EDCTP2) supported by the European Union (grant number TMA201PF-2694-SABIOT). The project title is Use of an Aedes Salivary Biomarker to Assess Arboviral Disease Transmission Risk and Efficacy of Vector Control in North-Eastern Tanzania.

Dr. Debora Charles Kajeguka
Lecturer, Department of Microbiology at KCMUCo.

Objectives of SABIOT

To determine human exposure to Aedes mosquitoes as measured by specific anti-IgG antibodies against Aedes N-term-34kDa salivary peptide, and to assess whether the level of antibodies could be useful in assessing the risk of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission and evaluate the efficacy of vector control strategies in North-Eastern Tanzania. Additionally, the project intends to provide training on 1) 1). How to design Antigens (Aedes N-term-34kDa salivary peptide),.  2) How to use Immune-proteomic approaches and techniques such as 2D

Electrophoresis and Immunoblotting to study protein (antigen) structure and properties. Part of the training will take place at the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) – in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Impacts

Data collected in this study will uncover the risk of arboviral transmission in northeastern Tanzania. Data generated will provide an early warning of increased risk of transmission of arboviral disease and early warning signs of outbreaks. More importantly, assist health authorities and policymakers in better planning for timely interventions.