Arboviral Genomic Surveillance: A Crucial Step in Preparing the Region Against Climate-Driven Vector-Borne Diseases

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Arboviral Genomic Surveillance: A Crucial Step in Preparing the Region Against Climate-Driven Vector-Borne Diseases

Climate change causes changes in rainfall patterns and a higher likelihood of extreme weather events – conditions that potentially contribute to the increase and spread of various vector-borne diseases, especially arboviruses, i.e. those spread by mosquitos.

"For the last two years, there has been no seasonality of dengue cases in Bangladesh.” said Dr ManjurHossain Khan Jony, Assistant Professor (Virology) & Senior Scientific Officer (Zoonosis) at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Bangladesh. “You could say that dengue is now endemic in the community.” Dengue is currently the arbovirus with the highest number of global cases.

While tropical countries are most affected by the dengue virus due to climate and rainfall, human movement has resulted in the spread of arboviruses outside of the typical regions.

“The influx of tourists from tropical countries also facilitates the spread of the dengue virus,” said Dr Evgeniya Kazakova, Researcher and Head of the Sequencing Department, Research Institute of Virology, Uzbekistan. “We recognise the need to study these pathogens and for us to increase our genomic surveillance capabilities.”

Dr Manjur Hossain Khan Jony at Asia PGI Academy’s training workshop on arboviral surveillance

In an era where climate change increasingly influences global health, pathogen genomics stands at the forefront of efforts to understand the effects of climate hazards on the spread of arboviral diseases. By decoding the genetic information of viruses, scientists can track mutations, understand transmission patterns, and develop targeted interventions. This genomic surveillance is crucial for early detection and outbreak response.

Dr Evgeniya Kazakova (Uzbekistan) working on a PCR test with teammates from Vietnam

“We all know that there is no treatment for arboviruses,” said Dr Mansi Rajendra Malik, Research Scientist at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, India. “There are no drugs for dengue. So the best thing you can do is prevention and control. Surveillance and epidemiology really helps with that.”

Understanding the need for increased capabilities in pathogen genomic surveillance, Dr Jony, Dr Evgeniya, and Dr Mansi were in Singapore last week to take part in a hands-on workshop organised by the Asia Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Asia PGI) Academy. The workshop saw 21 participants from 13 countries come together to delve into the intricacies of the genomic surveillance of dengue and zika.

”With both wet and dry lab trainings carried out during the workshop, participants were able to comprehensively discuss the utility and challenges faced when integrating NGS technologies into current surveillance and response systems,” said Sandy Mak, Senior Scientist at the Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Asia PGI trainer. “By fostering a collaborative learning environment, we've not only advanced individual skills but also strengthened our collective capability to address viral threats.”

Over the course of the week, participants engaged in laboratory and bioinformatics sessions with trainers from the Duke-NUS Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), the National Environment Agency (NEA), Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness (COP), and BII.

“The Philippines is transitioning from the Sanger sequencing method to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), which is faster and more cost-effective,” said Floriebelle Deauna Rojas, Science Research Specialist II at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Philippines. “Learning about NGS during the workshop was important and would help my work in dengue surveillance."

Participants also attended talks by guest lecturers from the Duke-NUS Medical School, NEA, and BII. "The lectures we had on vector surveillance were very useful,” says Nishan Katuwal, a molecular biologist from the Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, Nepal. “We talked about what analyses one can do with the vectors, and innovative ways to catch and control mosquitoes.”

Participants also discussed critical aspects such as costing, procurement, and supply chain management, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of genomic surveillance work.

Floriebelle Deauna Rojas, Dr Mansi Rajendra Malik, Dr Charles Tiu

Floriebelle Deauna Rojas (Philippines) and Dr Mansi Rajendra Malik (India) with Dr Charles Tiu from Duke-NUS Medical School

“One of the biggest challenges we face is supply chain issues,” said Ajit Poudel, a clinical researcher from the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Nepal. “Talking to industry partners such as Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies gave us an idea of how to streamline our processes so that these kits are more readily available, ensuring that down-the-line genomics work can be carried out more efficiently.”

A key highlight of the workshop was the opportunity for regional experts to exchange experiences, ideas and discuss common challenges. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the event fostered a collaborative environment where participants could share best practices and innovative solutions.

Wrapping up the workshop with a certificate-award ceremony

“It’s a good opportunity for us to not only strengthen our knowledge, but also to build a network amongst those with a similar field of interest,’ said Yu Kie Chem, a science officer from the National Public Health Laboratory, Selangor, Malaysia.

Strengthening arboviral genomic surveillance capabilities requires both technological advancements and cross-country cooperation. As the region faces climate change and emerging infectious diseases, initiatives like this workshop are crucial.

“It’s a rare opportunity to meet and collaborate with scientists in the region,” said Furqan Kabir, Senior Manager and Team Lead at the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Pakistan. “Moving forward, I’m hoping that Asia PGI continues as a platform for us to learn from each other.”

Arboviral Genomic Surveillance: A Crucial Step in Preparing the Region Against Climate-Driven Vector-Borne Diseases

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