Pasteur Network joins the Grand Challenges network of partners initiative
Earlier this week, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s #GrandChallenges Annual Meeting took place in Dakar, Senegal, where the RFP “Catalyzing Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use to Improve Global Health” was launched jointly by several Grand Challenges partners, including the Pasteur Network. This RFP will enable LMICs to take the lead on designing AI solutions for improving community health and well-being.
This opportunity allows for the development of global health and development solutions in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) using AI-enabled large language models (LLMs). The purpose of the Equitable AI for Health in LMICs Call is to help advance the development of robust, locally relevant AI-empowered tools. These tools will expedite decision-making, policy pathways, and implementation by frontline health workers and policymakers.
The initiative is led by GC Brazil, GC India, GC Ethiopia, GC Senegal, GC South Africa, and GC Africa. Support for this initiative is provided by GC Canada, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the Pasteur Network, and the Gates Foundation.
More information:
Read the press release of the Bill & Melinda gates Foundation (10 octobre2023) “Gates Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of “Grand Challenges” With New Investments and a Call to Make R&D Breakthroughs Available More Quickly and Equitably”
Grand Challenges Annual Meeting : https://www.grandchallenges.org/annual-meeting
Consult the Booklet of the event
A*STAR ID Labs – the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research – Infectious Diseases Labs- and the Institut Pasteur have jointly organized a symposium involving the Pasteur Network.
A Singaporean delegation from A*STAR ID Labs was present at the Institut Pasteur campus on October 5 and 6, 2023, including A*STAR ID Labs Executive Director, Prof Lisa Ng, and A*STAR ID Labs Deputy Director, Ms Amanda Loo. On the opening session, Her Excellency Ms FOO Teow Lee, Ambassador of Singapore in France, reaffirmed the will of Singapore to foster research collaborations with France, and warmly welcomed the strengthening of ties between A*STAR ID Labs and the Institut Pasteur.
The scientific presentations were structured around three broad research areas: respiratory diseases, vector-borne diseases and antimicrobial resistance. Those research areas constitute scientific priorities for A*STAR ID Labs and the Institut Pasteur, as well as for the Pasteur Network.
The first session provided participants with an outline on ongoing tuberculosis research in the Pasteur Network and at the Institut Pasteur, and on epidemic preparedness at A*STAR ID Labs. The second session focused on vector-borne diseases with a wide-range of topics addressed, such as mosquito-virus interactions, trypanosome research, and viral-neuro-immune dynamics in arboviral infections, among others. The last session of the symposium outlined the latest research on antimicrobial resistance undertaken at A*STAR ID Labs, notably on phage therapy, at the Institut Pasteur, for instance on the development of new antibiotics, and in the Pasteur Network, regarding the ongoing battle against antibiotic resistance.
Around 50 colleagues from the Institut Pasteur campus attended the symposium sessions. The speakers’ presentations as well as more relaxed networking moments provided the participants with opportunities to discuss future research projects and collaborations.
About A*Star/ID Labs
Founded in April 2021 as part of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore’s lead public sector R&D agency, ID Labs brings together a global and interdisciplinary team of scientists to generate purposeful outcomes towards preparedness and defense against emerging infectious disease threats, a vision shared by the Institut Pasteur and the Pasteur Network.
About the Institut Pasteur
The Institut Pasteur, a non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status set up by Louis Pasteur in 1887, is today an internationally renowned center for biomedical research. In the pursuit of its mission to tackle diseases in France and throughout the world, the Institut Pasteur operates in four main areas: research, public health, training, and development of research applications. The Institut Pasteur is a globally recognized leader in infectious diseases, microbiology, and immunology, with research focusing on the biology of living systems. Among its areas of investigation are emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, certain cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain connectivity disorders. The Institut Pasteur’s outstanding research is facilitated by the development of a technological environment of the highest standard, with core facilities for nanoimaging, computational biology and artificial intelligence. Since its inception, 10 Institut Pasteur scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, including two in 2008 for the 1983 discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. The Institut Pasteur is part of the Pasteur Network.
About the Pasteur Network
The Pasteur Network is a vast human and scientific community with more than 30 members in over 20 countries contributing together to global health. Located in the heart of endemic areas, the Network has privileged access to a large number of pathogens that it monitors and studies on all five continents. This exceptional diversity makes the Pasteur Network a unique global actor in public health, science, innovation, and education, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.
Pasteur Network announces the online publication of the report, which covers the 2021-2022 activities.
This latest report includes a presentation of the network and worldwide highlights of its members, achievements, and community.
Each of the four chapters is dedicated to a Pasteur Network Region: Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Euro-Mediterranean with a specific page for each member.
About the Pasteur Network
The Pasteur Network is a vast human and scientific community with more than 30 members in over 20 countries contributing together to global health. Located in the heart of endemic areas, the Network has privileged access to a large number of pathogens that it monitors and studies on all five continents. This exceptional diversity makes the Pasteur Network a unique global actor in public health, science, innovation, and education, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.
The Pasteur Network aims to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing by sponsoring yearly high-level training modules . Three recent courses hosted by members of the Pasteur Network addressed some of its main action pillars : epidemic intelligence and preparedness, research, development and innovation, multi-disciplinary knowledge communities and equitable collaboration.
A first course focused on “Biology of emerging and Neglected Viral Infections in Latin America” took place from April 19th to 28th , 2023 at the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo.
The course, organised by Nicolas Sarute (Institut Pasteur de Montevideo), Nolwenn Jouvenet (Institut Pasteur, Paris) and Sandra Cordo (UBA, AUGM, Argentina), brought together researchers and healthcare professionals from all over Latin America. The main objective of the course was to foster a multidisciplinary exchange on key aspects of the biology of neglected and emerging viruses, with a focus on pathogens with an impact on public health. Topics covered included basic virus research, epidemiology, surveillance, and prevention and control strategies.
This course will bear the name of Professor Otto Pritsch, a recently deceased researcher who played a fundamental role in the consolidation of the agreement signed between the French Cooperation for Latin America, the Association of Universities of the Montevideo Group (AUGM), the Institut Pasteur (Paris) and the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo.
Consult the programme on the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo website
A second course within the context of the SARA (Surveillance of antibiotic resistance in Africa) project, co-financed with FSPi funds of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, was held at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar from May 22nd to 26th, 2023. It was co-coordinated by the group of Sylvain Brisse (Institut Pasteur) and Yakhya Diye (Institut Pasteur de Dakar). This intensive course brought together 21 participants from 9 different African countries. The course focused on the sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of bacterial genomes. It also enabled participants to strengthen their collaborative network and share best practices in antibiotic resistance surveillance.
To find out more about the SARA course: read the article published on Pasteur.fr
Finally, the “Immersion in Innovation and Technology Transfer in Biological Sciences and Public Health” course was held from June 26th to 29th, 2023at the Hellenic Pasteur Institute. Over four days, experts spoke about the importance of technology transfer and innovation in the development and manufacture of innovative medical products.
Consult the programme on the Hellenic Pasteur Institute website
By funding these high-level courses and making them accessible to a wide range of participants, the Pasteur Network aims to foster collective action and knowledge sharing, in emerging infectious diseases, anti-microbial resistance and the promotion of scientific innovation.
More information :
List of the courses supported by the Pasteur Network
Pasteur Network contact : Kathleen VICTOIR kathleen.victoir@pasteur.fr
Photo: SARA course in May 2023 at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar. Copyright: Sylvain Brisse
Pasteur International Unit Fungal Extracellular Vesicles has been created by the Institut Pasteur, FioCruz – Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Brazil) – two members of the Pasteur Network – and the University of Birmingham (UK). The Pasteur International Joint Research Units are jointly created with two or more research teams, working together within the Pasteur Network.
More information :
- Institut Pasteur article : Creation of the Pasteur International Unit Fungal Extracellular Vesicles
- Fiocruz press release : Fiocruz-Pasteur-Birmingham international unit will investigate fungal diseases
About the Pasteur Network
The Pasteur Network is a vast human and scientific community with more than 30 members in over 20 countries contributing together to global health. Located in the heart of endemic areas, the Network has privileged access to a large number of pathogens that it monitors and studies on all five continents. This exceptional diversity makes the Pasteur Network a unique global actor in public health, science, innovation, and education, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.
On Friday March 31, 2023 at a ceremony in Paris, the Institut Pasteur President, Professor Stewart Cole, and the University of São Paulo (USP) Rector, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, signed articles of association for the Institut Pasteur in São Paulo, a private non-profit organization under Brazilian law. The mission of the institute, an associate member of the Pasteur Network, is to conduct research in the field of biology that contributes to the development of human health, and to promote outreach, education, innovation and knowledge transfer activities and public health measures.
For more information
Read the press release on the Institut Pasteur’s website: https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area/press-documents/institut-pasteur-and-university-sao-paulo-sign-articles-association-establish-institut-pasteur-sao
Photo: Signing ceremony at the Institut Pasteur – © François Gardy – Institut Pasteur
Five members of the Pasteur Network— the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, the Institut Pasteur de Bangui, the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, the Institut Pasteur de la Guyane and the Institut Pasteur—have collaboratively published the results of a study on mosquito ribosomal RNA. In addition to the release of 234 complete ribosomal RNA sequences from 33 mosquito species to public databases, the study presents the bioinformatics methodology used to assemble these sequences. The eLife article also assesses the use of ribosomal RNA as a molecular marker for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on mosquitoes. These findings will facilitate the discovery and monitoring of viruses in all the mosquito species investigated as well as others.
Monitoring virus circulation with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)
Mosquitoes are known to transmit many pathogenic viruses among humans and animals. Most of these viruses carry genetic information in the form of ribonucleic acid or RNA. By sequencing the RNA found in mosquitoes, a technique known as RNA-seq,
we can identify what viral pathogens are circulating in certain mosquito populations by detecting their RNA genomes. This also allows us to discover potential emerging viral pathogens.
However, the mosquito itself contain plenty of RNA, specifically the RNAs that make up protein-producing machines called ribosomes. This type of RNA is aptly called ribosomal RNA. The hyperabundant presence of ribosomal RNA constitute “background noise”, which can reduce the sensitivity of pathogen detection by masking the sequences of interest, and they need to be removed from the sample. To successfully remove or deplete ribosomal RNA, we need to know its reference sequence.
However, the lack of reference ribosomal RNA sequences for a large majority of mosquito species makes it difficult to perform RNA-seq in these species. Only a few vector species were listed on public databases—a collection of all known genetic sequences for all living things. This gap leads to a neglect of the transmission cycles perpetuated by other mosquito species endemic to more remote environments, which are responsible for the infection of reservoir animals. To allow for virus discovery and monitoring in a wider range of mosquito species, the team expanded the current collection of reference ribosomal RNA sequences.
Employing the collective expertise of the Pasteur Network members
By bringing together their expertise and resources, scientists from the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, the Institut Pasteur de Bangui, the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, the Institut Pasteur de la Guyane and the Institut Pasteur, all members of the Pasteur Network, have released a large assemblage of ribosomal RNA sequences to public databases. Using a unique bioinformatics method described in the study, the team was able to assemble the complete ribosomal RNA sequences for all their specimens, even in the presence of contaminating biological material. This genomic resource constitutes a set of 234 complete ribosomal RNA sequences of 33 mosquito species.
The implications of this genomic resource
These novel sequences allow for the physical and computational elimination of interfering ribosomal RNA sequence reads, the aforementioned “background noise”, leading to the detection of target viral genomic RNA at increased sensitivity. In addition, ribosomal RNAs can be used for the molecular identification of the mosquito species under study. The accuracy of molecular identification of mosquito species using ribosomal RNA sequences is comparable to that of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene sequence—the gold standard and current reference in molecular taxonomy. The bioinformatics methodology and sequences resulting from this collaboration will thus help to discover and monitor known and potential new pathogens in a large number of insect species by RNA-seq metagenomics.
For more information:
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences from 33 globally distributed mosquito species for improved metagenomics and species identification
eLife, janvier 2023.
Cassandra Koh, Lionel Frangeul, Hervé Blanc, Carine Ngoagouni,Sébastien Boyer, Philippe Dussart, Nina Grau, Romain Girod, Jean-Bernard Duchemin and Maria-Carla Saleh.
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.82762 / https://elifesciences.org/articles/82762
The COS-Pasteur Network is organizing its 2023 webinar series on ticks and tick-borne diseases. 6 webinars are planned throughout the year with speakers from the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, the Institut Pasteur de Bangui and the Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, members of the Pasteur Network. These webinars are free but registration is required.
For more information:
Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRbzR7Hzmum5DVF7dTyrU7c-CMtUZ4hMuHh_oE0UHvQRmEhA/viewform
On January 19th, 2022, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, member of the Pasteur Network and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and announced a 10-year partnership in which CEPI will invest up to $50 million. This collaboration aims to advance equitable access to vaccines in Africa and contribute to the African Union’s goal of increasing African manufacturers’ share of vaccine supply to the continent to 60% by 2040.
CEPI’s investment will complement that of other major funders for the project MADIBA, including European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the AFD – Agence Française de Développement, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the IFC – International Finance Corporation, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the German Government, and the Government of Senegal.
For more information:
CEPI’s news: https://cepi.net/news_cepi/cepi-and-institut-pasteur-de-dakar-announce-10-year-partnership-to-boost-manufacturing-of-affordable-vaccines-for-the-global-south/
Institut Pasteur de Dakar’s announcement: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7021806481087811584/?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_feedUpdate%3A%28V2%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7021806481087811584%29
A collaborative work between the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and the Institut Pasteur du Laos, from the Pasteur Network, with the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (Cirad), demonstrates the future impacts of human-induced climate change on public health, This study highlights the threat of a significant increase of mosquito densities, a potential vector for numerous infectious diseases in South-East Asia. This study, carried out in the framework of the Ecomore 2 project, has been published in Environmental Health Perspective.
Dengue is an emerging infectious disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, that is affecting more and more people worldwide. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, the dengue vectors, are prone to expand due to climate change. Human populations could be increasingly exposed to potential outbreaks. In South-East Asia, where dengue is endemic, data on these mosquitoes were gathered by the entomology units of the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and the Institut Pasteur du Laos, both members of the Pasteur Network.
Conducted in the framework of Ecomore 2 and other projects, this study relies on data collected by Sébastien Marcombe from the Institut Pasteur du Laos and by Sébastien Boyer at the Institut Pasteur du Camboge, together with other literature data on the occurrence of these two species in South-East Asia.
Data on presence, seasonality, and dynamics of Ae. aegypti & Ae. albopictus were analyzed regarding land-use, topography, and climate. Two IRD research units led the mathematical modelling and spatial analyses, first to model their distribution over the region and, second, to assess the impact of the prospective climatic scenarios (nine CMIP6 climate models) on their future distribution. The results show that, by the end of this century, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus densities will respectively increase up to 46% and 25% in South-East Asia due to predicted temperature growths. Moreover, climate mitigation measures are unlikely to significantly moderate this expansion.
The maps resulting from these models are freely accessible on the Ecomore II Climate Platform. Users of the platform can observe the impact of different climate change models and scenarios on the evolution of the distributions of Aedes populations. These results provide further evidence that human-induced climate changes will impact ecosystems and public health.
For more information:
Predicting the Effects of Climate Change on Dengue Vector Densities in Southeast Asia through Process-Based Modeling
Environmental Health Perspective, December 2022.
Lucas Bonnin*, Annelise Tran, Vincent Herbreteau, Sébastien Marcombe, Sébastien Boyer, Morgan Mangeas, and Christophe Menkes.
*Corresponding author.
https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11068
Ecomore website: https://ecomore.org/2023/02/02/the-evolution-of-dengue-vectors-densities-faced-with-climate-change-in-south-east-asia/