During August 18-22, Svetlana Egorova, Deputy Director for Innovation, Maria Makarova, Head of Intestinal Infections Laboratory, Samida Zhamborova, Junior Researcher at Intestinal Infections Laboratory and Dmitry Polev, Head of Metagenomic Research Group visited the National Laboratory of Public Health (LNSP, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo). The purpose of the visit was to conduct a training seminar for experts from the Republic of the Congo on issues of ensuring the preanalytical and analytical stages of joint scientific research, as well as training Congolese colleagues to work with Russian PCR test systems, reagents and nutrient media as part of joint research on etiology of acute intestinal infections in the Republic of Congo.
During the two-day seminar with the participation of about 60 medical workers from various departments of the Republic of Congo, the Institute's employees described the structure, epidemiology and diagnostics of acute intestinal infections, and problems of antibiotic resistance of pathogens. LNSP employees presented information on the incidence of acute intestinal infections in the republic and shared problems in diagnostics. During the seminar, the medical staff were introduced to the objectives of the study, trained in the methodology of biomaterial samples collecting, storage and transportation rules, and preparation of accompanying documentation.
During the mission, a preliminary testing of the experimental test system "Reagent kit for detection of monkey pox virus DNA by real-time PCR (MPX Amp PS)" developed by Saint-Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute was also carried out on clinical samples; a plan for further testing of the kit on a larger number of samples was agreed upon. LNSP staff are trained to work with Russian test systems for DNA/RNA extraction and kits for detecting pathogens of acute intestinal infections. Congolese colleagues noted the convenience, cost-effectiveness, and speed of use of Russian test systems.
