Short description
(English)
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In many regions of West Africa the incidence of Mycobacterium ulcerans infections (Buruli ulcer) is increasing. This emerging infectious disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissues affects mainly poor people living in rural areas. The mode of transmission and the risk factors for infection are uncertain, although globally the disease has been found to be associated with riverine and wetland environments. There is no known primary preventive measure to control the disease. Further, there is no effective drug treatment; the only currently accepted treatment is "wide" surgical excision of the lesions. For microepidemiological analyses we are developing molecular-biological tools which should allow us to differentiate between closely related M. ulcerans isolates. To dissect the humoral immune response, we are generating panels of monoclonal antibodies against M. ulcerans antigens, identify them by using genome information resources and characterize them further. We have established a quantitative real-time PCR method that allows to quantitate the mycobacterial burden in clinical specimens and in environmental samples.
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Project aims
(English)
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In accordance with the research priorities of the WHO, the goals of our research are i) to understand the transmission of M. ulcerans better, ii) to evaluate possibilities of developing methods for early diagnosis, and iii) to investigate prospects for vaccine development.
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Publications / Results
(English)
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Development and application of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the quantification of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA. S. Rondini, E. Mensah-Quainoo, H. Troll, T. Bodmer, and G. Pluschke, J. Clin. Microbiol., 41, 4231 - 4237 (2003)Buruli ulcer disease in Cameroon rediscovered. J. Noeske, C. Kuban, S. Rondini, P. Sorlin, L. Ciaffi, J. Muagbaw, F. Portaels, and G. Pluschke, Am. J. Trop.Med.and Hygiene, accepted
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