# Emerging infections: surveillance, epidemiology and pathogenesis

> **NIH NIH U01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $1,683,114

## Abstract

SUMMARY
 To prepare for the next emerging infection, our goal is to establish a state-of-the-art Emerging
Infectious Diseases Research Center with surveillance for the key disease syndromes – respiratory disease,
encephalitis and fever of unknown origin– that have been observed most frequently associated with emerging
viruses in the past few decades. In parallel, surveillance of animal and insect vectors will be performed to
identify the origins of and define transmissions patterns associated with, these novel emerging viruses. The
Center includes four international surveillance sites–China, Hong Kong, Nepal and Ethiopia– which were
carefully selected on the basis of having either an established history of viral emergence or high potential to
capture such events. China, Hong Kong and Nepal are all situated in Southeast Asia, which has historically
been a nidus for many emerging viruses such as H5N1 influenza, SARS Coronavirus, Severe Fever and
Thrombocytopenia virus, and the very recently reported Alongshan virus. Ethiopia, along with Northeastern
Africa, is at high risk for emergence of MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) due to endemicity of MERS in camels,
a key reservoir in the region. To identify novel or emerging viruses, we will use complementary virus family-
specific consensus PCR and unbiased next generation sequencing approaches and then sequence their
complete genomes. Subsequently, we will generate key reagents essential for establishment of diagnostic
assays and the study of fundamental aspects of viral pathogenesis, epidemiology, and immune control. These
include development of cell culture systems, targeted RT-PCR/PCR assays, serological assays, monoclonal
antibodies for antigen detection and potential therapeutic applications, mouse models of infection, and if
appropriate, ferret models of virus transmission. An additional component of the center is international capacity
building. Initial efforts focus on two exemplar viruses: MERS-CoV, a recently emerged virus, and a highly
variant Dengue virus, Dengue virus 5, which is has prevalence and emergence potential. MERS-CoV is a
deadly zoonotic respiratory pathogen with a case fatality rate of ~35% to date. We will implement surveillance
for these viruses and develop additional reagents and assays to characterize their epidemiology and
pathogenic potential. These efforts will establish and validate the critical infrastructure necessary to respond to
a new emerging infectious disease. In the event of a new outbreak, efforts will be reprioritized to focus on
response to the new emerging threat. The priorities, in order, are: (1) Human and animal surveillance for
novel/emerging viruses; (2) Assay and reagent development; (3) Define epidemiology of novel/emerging
viruses; (4) Pathogenesis, immune control, transmission and treatment of novel/emerging viruses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9969005
- **Project number:** 1U01AI151810-01
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID WANG
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,683,114
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-11 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9969005

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9969005, Emerging infections: surveillance, epidemiology and pathogenesis (1U01AI151810-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9969005. Licensed CC0.

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