The University of Buea in Cameroon, in collaboration with European research infrastructures ERINHA and IGBMC (an Instruct-ERIC member), undertook a project aimed at developing novel diagnostic tools for Mpox (MPX) virus serosurveillance. In response to a global surge in MPX cases, this project addressed the critical need for enhanced diagnostic tools, especially in low- and middle-income countries where real-time PCR tests are impractical.
This ISIDORe-supported work on Mpox diagnostics and Aedes-borne virus vaccines has been a 2025 Biochemical Society Award!
Through the ISIDORe program, two chimeric diagnostic antigens—MP-MEDA-1 and MP-MEDA-3—were successfully expressed and purified. These were then used in serological assays involving 100 serum samples, both PCR-positive and PCR-negative for MPX, sourced from INMI in Italy. While initial results highlighted challenges in defining seropositivity cut-off values due to unexpected reactivity in PCR-negative samples, the findings pointed to the potential of antibody-based serology as a superior surveillance tool for MPX in certain populations.
Capacity-building was a key component of the project. A Master’s student received hands-on training, and additional funding was secured for fieldwork in Cameroon’s Kumba Health District. The project’s outputs have already been recognized at prestigious international conferences, with multiple awards received for posters and presentations. Future work will focus on field validation of these assays and continued serosurveillance efforts.
The overall feedback from the research team highlighted the significant impact of the ISIDORe grant in advancing MPX diagnostics, building local research capacity, and contributing valuable data to the fight against infectious diseases.