Institut Pasteur de Dakar

Senegal

 

The Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal is a research and training institute focussing on public health. The immunology department is mainly committed to malaria-related research, divided into four complementary laboratories focussing on immunology, vaccinology, parasitology and immunogenetics, in close connection with the epidemiology unit. In these laboratories, there are advanced facilities, training capacities and expertise in P. falciparum immunology-related studies. The medical entomology unit is furnished with state-of-the-art insectary facilities and has considerable expertise in both field and laboratory studies on malaria vectors.

A major project of the Institut has been to carry out a long-term longitudinal survey in two communities, Dielmo and Ndiop, since 1989 and 1993, respectively. This study has been carried out in collaboration with the 'Institut de Recherche pour le Développement' and the 'Ministère de la Santé, de la Prévention Médicale et de l'Hygiène Publique'. Both Dielmo and Ndiop have populations of about 350 people and are situated approximately 300 km south of Dakar. Malaria is hyperendemic in Dielmo and mesoendemic in Ndiop. The studies are mostly malaria-related, and cover many different aspects such as parasitology, entomology, immunology and genetics.

People

• Adama Tall (MalariaGEN Investigator)
• Alioune Badara Ly (MalariaGEN Data Fellow)

How the team are contributing to MalariaGEN

Adama Tall and his team at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar are recruiting DNA and serum samples for Consortial Project 2.

The samples are being recruited from within the long-term longitudinal surveys being carried out in Dielmo and Ndiop. All participating adults and children are visited every day to enquire about their health. Temperature measurements are taken every other day for children aged under 5 years. Detailed records are also kept of all disease episodes and blood slides are prepared if anyone has exhibited at least one symptom of malaria.

Using this approach, 543 DNA samples have been recruited along with two matched serum samples per person and associated clinical data.

Learn more about this project by reading Alioune Badara Ly's account of the improvements made to ethics review and informed consent processes. More >>