Objectives
As for many other communicable diseases, TB has been the subject of small, concise, and focused bilateral projects involving research entities of the two shores. However, these projects have never been extended to the dimension of a large network, nor planned to promote a sustained capacity building of southern groups. EUMEDNETvsTB will represent the first true initiative to establish a Euro Mediterranean network aiming at promoting a close cooperation and twinning actions for upgrading, and boosting S&T human potential, as well as capacity building.
Successful achievement of EUMEDNETvsTB’ aims is expected to promote scientific excellence and enhanced visibility of MPCs in the two aforementioned prioritized TB research topics, namely molecular epidemiology of M. tuberculosis and its interaction with the host. As a support action, EUMEDNETvsTB will create a favorable context bringing the beneficiaries in the Mediterranean Partner Countries in the position to carry out research with the following strategic objectives (SO):
- SO1: Establishing the genetic structure of the M. tuberculosis population circulating in the three MPCs
- SO2: Identifying genetic and genomic markers of the most successful clones and multidrug-resistant strains circulating in MPCs
- SO3: Evaluating the extent of homologous recombination-mediated deletions in PE/PPE genes and their impact in the natural success and adaptation of M. tuberculosis
- SO4: Delineation of host immunological and genetic determinants underlying the epidemiological success of strains found to be stably adapted to the North African population,
- SO5; Organisation of symposium and training workshops
The project is organized in five work packages:
