1. Article | 2020.06.22

   Urgent Discovery of Drug Candidates That Target Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

   Aim: rapidly provide drug candidates to treat victims of Covid-19. We will do this by applying our cutting-edge technologies and libraries to screen for viable active compounds that kill coronavirus. The strategy will employ phenotype screens (FPDD) that test for coronavirus inhibition using mouse (MHV-59) and human (OC43) virus as models for fast compound screening in cell culture. Direct-...

2. Article | 2020.06.22

   Engineering an ACE2 derived polypeptide for label-free, real-time detection on a smartphone device and therapeutic intervention

   Aim: The current pandemic of CoV urges for therapeutic options and fast, and cheap diagnosis in alternative to the PCR based technology. We propose characterizing a newly designed polypeptide based on ACE2, which could be the base of detection devices adapted to smartphones and harbors the potential for therapeutic intervention. Focusing on ACE2 overcomes viral mutations, extending the...

3. Article | 2020.06.22

   Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 infection spread in various populations groups in Cameroon

   Aim: The high case fatality ratio of Covid-19 compared to the flu is a global preoccupation. It could be related to non-reporting of mild and asymptomatic infection whose role in transmission is not completely clear if not diagnosed. It is therefore of paramount importance to quickly evaluate the true extent of the infection of SARS-CoV-2. We planned it in different population groups (close...

4. Article | 2020.06.22

   Development of novel nano-based multi-epitope vaccine against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 - Generation of Humanized NSG transfer mouse model for vaccine testing

   Aim: We hypothesize that it may be possible to generate protective anti-SARS-CoV-2 immuneresponse in humanized NSG transfer mouse model. This will be achieved by administering to them of lipid-based nanoparticles carrying peptide molecules, comprising dominant immunogenic B and T cell epitopes from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The epitopes will be predicted by EpiDOCK server for evaluation of...

5. Article | 2020.06.22

   Investigation of the first cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections and their contacts in Antananarivo, Madagascar

   Aim: This study aims to understand the epidemiologic, clinical, virologic and immunologic characteristics of first infected cases, their evolution and household transmission. It is intended to follow confirmed infected cases and their household members. It will be conducted with clinicians from three hospital centers of Antananarivo.

6. Article | 2020.06.22

   Characterization of variable systemic and mucosal immunity during SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery

   Aim: Our knowledge of the kinetics, intensity and diversity of cellular and humoral immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans is limited. Using a novel technical pipeline based on the Milieu Interieur cohort approach, we will characterize systemic as well as local mucosal immunity during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aim to identify immune signatures that can distinguish...

7. Article | 2020.06.22

   Nicotinic modulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain

   Aim: This project aims at experimentally testing the hypothesis that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of Covid-19 infection and might represent a target for the prevention and control of Covid-19 infection.

8. Article | 2020.06.22

   Mechanisms of intercellular spreading of SARS-CoV-2: assessing the role of TNTs to escape immune surveillance and expand tropism and pathogenicity

   Aim: We will study the mechanism of spreading of SARS-CoV-2 between permissive (eg; epithelial) and non-permissive (eg; neuronal) cells, and investigate the role of TNTs, as well as the dependence on the ACE2 receptor. Our cryoEM and FIBSEM set up, will provide unique structural information about this process. Overall, this project will allow understanding the mechanism of the viral...

9. Article | 2020.06.22

   Evaluating the determinants of coronavirus tropism in 3D models of human pulmonary epithelia

   Aim: This study will compare the tropism of SARS-CoV-2 and more benign human coronaviruses for primary epithelia of the respiratory tract, to determine whether tropism associates with pathogenicity. The research team will use models based on reconstructed human airway epithelia and take advantage of a lung-on-chip technology that mimics the pulmonary alveolae stretch associated with...

10. Article | 2020.06.22

    Sequence the complete genome of Covid-19 directly and at low cost from prepared RNA samples from patients

    Aim: to be able to sequence the complete genome of Covid-19 directly and at low cost from prepared RNA samples from patients. We plan to implement a capture sequencing protocol targeting the SARS-CoV-2 genome using three commercial sets of probes in parallel. Results will be compared with a bioinformatics analysis pipeline and shared via publication (Biorxiv preprint followed by classical...

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