UAntwerp fights in front line against mpox in Africa
Antwerp scientists coordinate two internationally funded projects against virus
Pregnant women are at the centre of two major research projects fighting the mpox virus. The projects are being coordinated by the University of Antwerp and are receiving nearly €9 million in funding from the European Union and the international alliance CEPI.
The mpox virus outbreak in Central and West Africa is not yet under control. Mpox is a viral infectious disease usually transmitted from animals to humans. The disease causes a distinct skin rash (pox) and ulcers in, for example, the mouth, nose, throat or digestive tract. The disease is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), which occurs in the wild in certain small mammals in several Central and West African countries.
On 14 August, the World Health Organisation declared the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries as an international public health emergency. More than 37 000 infections and 1040 confirmed deaths have already been reported in 120 different countries. Experts warn that these figures may underestimate the real situation.
Prof Jean-Pierre Van geertruyden.
Through the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, the European Union is now making €6.7 million available in a first phase for five large-scale studies to help control the mpox crisis. Two of these projects are being coordinated by the University of Antwerp, in this case the Global Health Institute (GHI). ‘The UAntwerpen expertise present and long-term cooperation in the region with strong academic partners gives us the opportunity to realise these studies,’ said Prof Jean-Pierre Van geertruyden.
Pregnant women
Europe is investing 1.25 million in the PREGMPOX study. Together with the Université Catholique de Bukavu (Congo), Makerere University Lung Institute (Uganda) and the Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, the Antwerp researchers will focus on mpox in pregnant women.‘We know that this target group has an increased risk of a severe course of the disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear,’ explains Prof Joseph Siewe (UAntwerpen).
The scientists will map in detail the spread of the virus among pregnant women. Joseph Siewe: ‘This way, we want to uncover the transmission routes, among other things.We will also follow the women up to and including childbirth to determine the risk factors.We will also follow the women up to and including childbirth to determine the risk factors. Mpox infection is often related to the loss of the unborn child, preterm births and neonatal infections.This project should lead to guidelines and recommendations for more effective management of mpox infection during pregnancy.’
Vaccination doubt
Pregnant women (and their young children) are also the focus of the second project. The partners of the PregInPoxVac project, which receives €1.6 million in funding from Europe, in addition to the GHI and the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccinations (UAntwerpen), are the Université de Kinshasa (DRC), the Fondazione Penta (Italy) and Africa Clinical Research Organisation Ltd.
‘No comprehensive studies have yet taken place on the use of the available MVA-BN vaccine in pregnant women and breastfed infants,’ says Prof Pierre Van Damme. ‘We expect no risk, but a thorough study in these populations will help investigate the immune response, as well as help determine the transmission of vaccine-induced antibodies from mother to child. At the same time, we also want to address vaccine hesitation among pregnant women, especially in Congo still fuelled by misinformation and lack of trust in politics and the healthcare system.’
Additional funding through CEPI
The PregInPoxVac project also received joyous news from CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations). This international alliance of governments, businesses and charities funds the research and development of new vaccines against potentially globally emerging, pandemic infectious diseases. CEPI is additionally investing as much as six million euros to deepen and extend the PregInPoxVac study to toddlers aged 6 months to 2 years.