Two years after the start of the pandemic, the Republic of Congo has begun to apply the genomic sequencing capacities developed in the fight against COVID-19 to other pathogens, including those responsible for malaria, tuberculosis or diarrhea diseases in young children.
Professor Francine Ntoumi, president of the Congolese Foundation for Medical Research (FCRM), based in the capital, Brazzaville, said genomic sequencing helped the authorities to get timely information almost immediately, on the circulation of variants of COVID-19 in the country. “Now we want to use these sequencing capabilities to monitor other pathologies”, she said.
FCRM has already established a sequencing protocol to describe the genes in staphylococcus responsible for the bacteria’s resistance to antibiotics, which will make it possible to better treat patients.
The country now produces its own genomic sequences of the virus that causes COVID-19, circumventing the long, expensive process of sending the samples abroad.
“The development of genomic sequencing in the Congo has highlighted the importance of research, and of having molecular biology laboratories and trained personnel, to effectively fight against diseases.
“Best of all, we are now getting more accurate results corresponding to the exact situation in the country. We can thus describe the situation at home, without extrapolating from what is happening elsewhere”.
Professor Francine Ntoumi
As the only organization with sequencing capabilities in the Republic of Congo, the FCRM quadrupled its daily sequencing capacity between 2020 and 2022, from 24 to 96 genomic sequences per day, according to the WHO.
Collaboration with the German Embassy
A collaboration with the German Embassy enabled the Foundation to bring its equipment up to standard, to acquire reagents necessary for genomic sequencing and, to send two of its seven employees on a three-month training course in the University of Tübingen. This is because having trained personnel allow for optimal use of the equipment on hand.
The FCRM is also implementing a project, supported by World Health Organization (WHO), to strengthen national capacities around clinical trials, with the aim of preparing the ground to introduce new treatments against COVID -19. In a similar vein, Congo’s National Public Health Laboratory is anticipating support from the World Bank to develop its own genomic sequencing capacities.
“Strengthening genomic sequencing capacities contributes to the empowerment of the country, in terms of disease surveillance and patient care – and therefore to the fight against epidemics”.
Dr Lucien Manga, WHO Representative in Congo
During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the information provided by genomic sequencing helped policy makers to understand the circulation of variants in the country, to adapt response measures according to their contagiousness, and to anticipate waves of infections.
Dr Gilbert Ndziessi, technical coordinator of the National COVID-19 Response Committee, highlighted that by making it possible to know which variants are in circulation, sequencing allows for a precise response and for optimizing use of resources, which is essential for countries where those resources are limited.
“When the Delta variant, which was more lethal than the others, was detected in Congo, we were able to direct our response activities towards hospitals for optimal patient care. With the Omicron variant, we focused on community outreach instead”.
Dr Gilbert Ndziessi
The country’s genomic sequencing capabilities are still in early stages of development. Reagents needed to sequence samples, for instance, may not always be available. Nonetheless, researchers are optimistic.
“It’s true that our sequencing capacities remain limited, but they are significant enough to know which variants are circulating and which are the majority in the country”, Dr Boyou, who was among those trained in Germany, said.
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