Global Immunology and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response (GIISER) in Uganda

Pontiano Kaleebu of the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Uganda will expand their genome surveillance platform to monitor the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Uganda to help inform timely public health decisions and the development of diagnostics and vaccines. They will obtain geographically-representative COVID-19 patient samples for genomic sequencing, as well as samples from strategic sites including points of entry, where several variants have emerged. They are also collecting blood samples and nasopharyngeal swabs from patients, some of whom have been vaccinated, to determine their ability to neutralize viral variants and to produce monoclonal antibodies for potential use as diagnostics or for vaccine design. The methods and capacity established during this project will also be used for immunological surveillance of other infectious diseases.