OFFLU technical activities and projects progress
| No. | Activity and Leader | Purpose | Deliverables | Progress | Next Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 KH | Biosafety (Bev Schmitt) | To provide guidance on minimum standards for handling AI viruses in veterinary laboratories | Practical biosafety guidelines | Biosafety guidance for handling HPAI viruses – published in OIE Diagnostic Manual and OFFLU website Biosafety guidance on handling pH1N1 viruses in – published on OFFLU website | Guidelines for disinfection and decontamination. |
| 2 KH | Development of Standardized Reference Materials (Ian Brown) | To establish through a collaborative exercise amongst OFFLU partners a global reference standard serum for H5 influenza A virus | A reference standard H5 antisera | Selection of 2 antisera. Preliminary batch of serum sourced to one strain, other currently in production. | Standard serum x2 and their respective antigens to be distributed amongst consortium for final testing to ensure fitness for purpose and standardisation.Provide a report. |
| 3 GD/ /FC/ KH | Proficiency Testing / Ring trial for OFFLU avian influenza labs (Timm Harder / Nichole Hines) |
| Recommendations to support harmonization among PT providers
| First OFFLU ring trial 2011 completed. FLI prepared 10 specimens for molecular testing and 6 specimens for subtyping for 9 OIE/FAO reference labs. Panels were shipped August 17, 2011. Results were analysed and presented at the OFFLU Technical Meeting in London, April 4, 2012. Proposal for labs to rotate responsibility for this. The USDA will be preparing the next Ring Trial panel. FAO prepared a comparison of AI/ND PT schemes in different regions (America, Africa, Asia, Europe) | A second Ring Trial has been initiated. The USDA is working to send molecular panels to distribute to OIE/FAO labs and regional labs by the end of March 2013. |
| 4 | RNA standard (Timm Harder) | • To develop an RNA standard | Universally usable RNA standard initially for H5 avian influenza virus targeted PCR assays | The technical activity is completed. FLI have developed an RNA standard.
| To obtain RNA standard contact timm.harder@fli.bund.de or Christian.grund@fli.bund.de and ask for RNA standards. Material can be supplied as run-off RNA transcripts at a fixed copy number (which may decrease upon shipping) or as plasmids for own production of run-off RNA. RNA is provided for the Spackman M1.2, the AHVLA recommended H5 and the FLI developed N1, NP and H7 assays. |
| 5 DS | Vaccination (David Swayne) | • Act as a source of scientific expertise and advice to OIE, FAO and WHO on matters relating to the design and assessment of AI vaccines and their use in poultry • Develop an international system forcomparing vaccine antigens with field strains in regions or situations where vaccination is undertaken, and for recommending candidate antigens for inclusion in vaccines • Act as a source of scientific advice on vaccine efficacy • Act as a source of scientific advice for assessment of vaccine effectiveness in field situations, –field trials –monitoring and evaluation of vaccinated populations, –surveillance for transmission of field strains in vaccinated populations | Authorship selected for Vaccination Handbook and writing has begun. Final product will be available for review at 2013 Vaccination workshop.
Planning has been initiated for a vaccination workshop in June 2013. | Proposal to Executive Committee on 2013 Vaccination Workshop. Progress report on Vaccination Handbook. | |
| 6 KH | Applied Epidemiology (Cristobal Zepeda) | • Review ongoing epidemiological efforts in surveillance and control of avian influenza, compile a list of projects • Provide advice on disease control strategies, disease surveillance and risk analysis • Support investigations of significant events and trends identified through OIE and FAO (GLEWS/OFFLU lab. Network) • Molecular epidemiology - Encourage sharing of geo-referenced isolate data - Support analysis of circulating strains at the regional level - Cooperate with the vaccine quality assurance group • Explore available options for linking epidemiological and sequence data and propose recommendations, compile a list of publicly available tools for synthesis of molecular and epidemiological data | Consultancy advice as needed Publications | Teleconference and guidance on issues around pH1N1 surveillance at the HAI Surveillance_final.pdf Questionnaire on global AI surveillance projects – responses (Africa vs Europe) currently complete. At FAO's request revised and reposted on OFFLU website OIE surveillance_study_final.pdf OFFLU animal influenza surveillance strategy document completed and posted online OFFLU surveillance strategy.pdf | Update as needed |
| 7 KH | MTAs/Code of Conduct and PIP framework (Peter Daniels) | Working group to develop a code of conduct for virus and information sharing (alternative to MTAs) focussing on collegial values and trust Working group involves with WHO and CDC to study the PIP framework implications for animal health laboratories | A user friendly alternative to MTAs Implications of WHO PIP framework on sharing of influenza biological material between animal health laboratories and WHO GISRS laboratories | OIE-FAO statement about the use/non-use of MTAs drafted, approved and disseminated. PIP framework technical group finalised a summary document with recommendations for consideration to OIE and FAO. | Draft code and circulate. Discussion to continue with WHO. |
| 8 DS | OFFLU Research Agenda | A comprehensive list of Research Priorities for equine, avian, and swine influenza surveillance | Completed, approved and published on OFFLU website OFFLU research agenda | Updates as needed | |
| 9 GD | Training(Giovanni Cattoli) | - draw lessons learnt in terms of AI testing training -develop/select e-learning systems and define the possible applications (eg. pre-requisite for an international training) -develop recommendations on AI training -develop a train the trainers program -develop/compile common OFFLU training material (including videos) -develop a database of trainees (to be managed then by the OFFLU secretariat) -identify training needs based on overall PT results -envisage perspectives of common human health/animal health training and lab/epi training | Training material recommendations | Following activities carried out: i) A specific training tab was created in the OFFLU website to post various influenza related training materials that may be endorsed by OFFLU executive committee ii) Posted videos on AI sampling procedures and lab techniques (IZSVe-FAO) iii) Collection and posting of training materials available and potentially useful: - e-learning course (Flu-Train) - several books - DVDs - other web-based trainings freely accessible iv) Development and posting of the influenza chapter of an FAO glossary of new and updated diagnostic assays. Proposed as future OFFLU document | -Disseminate videos through OFFLU website. -Contact (OFFLU) laboratories to invite to upload interesting and suitable training material (that they are willing to share) to the WHO-Avian Influenza Library or directly to OFFLU (after review) |
| 10 KH | OFFLU Swine influenza virus group (Amy Vincent/Kristien Van Reeth) | Coordinate and harmonise global swine influenza surveillance | OFFLU SIV group | Second meeting held on 27-28 March 2012 at OIE HQs. Minutes of meeting and presentations available online http://www.offlu.net/index.php?id=223 SIV group poster prepared and posted online. Manuscript on "Review of influenza A virus in swine worldwide: a call for increased surveillance and research" was accepted for publication in Zoonoses and Public Health journal | Next meeting in FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy in April 2013. Invitations sent. |
| No. | OFFLU projects and Leader | Purpose | Deliverables | Progress | Next Actions |
| 1 | Evaluation of a modified LAMP specific for H5-gene and testing its suitability under field conditions (Anja Globig) | evaluation (ev-1) and validation of a modified LAMP in ready-to-go tubes with lyophilized Mastermix (provided by IAEA) with different H5-strains further evaluation (ev-2) by boiling instead of conventional extraction and by use of water bath and SYBR Green for visualization testing the efficacy of the LAMP (ev-3) in regional laboratories, e.g. Nepal, Ghana by use of region-specific H5-strains including training of lab-staff | This OIE funded project started on 1 December 2010, six quarterly reports sent to OIE (KH) RESULTS: Evaluation and validation of the IAEA H5 LAMP almost completed. Different extraction techniques evaluated and results compared. Evaluation and validation of rapid tests (RIM, H5-specific and generic) and lyophilized realtime-PCR kit (Tetracore, AI-generic). Evaluation of Qiagen Esetube Scanner for use in basic labs. Contacts to resource-constrained laboratories established. Training courses conducted for two candidate labs from Iran and Kazakhstan. | Further validation until completion. Preparation of a (training-) manual for minimum requirements for validation of novel techniques in basic labs. Country visits and training on validation. Final report. Related publication and scientific report. | |
| 2 DS | An assessment of components of global avian influenza control programmes (David Swayne) | A comprehensive evaluation to identify the strengths and weaknesses of control strategies used in different countries and regions in varying contexts. A frame work describing which components should be considered for future control strategies | Scientific and technical review and recommendations | Project completed. Findings presented to OFFLU. Two manuscripts on the project published in the OIE Scientific and Technical Review http://web.oie.int/boutique/extrait/18swayne839870.pdf http://web.oie.int/boutique/extrait/02pavade661671.pdf | Third manuscript to be drafted soon. |
| No. | OFFLU resources and Leader | Purpose | Deliverables | Progress | Next actions |
| 1 GD | OFFLU information brochure | Nice colourful informative brochure | Completed | Keep it up to date | |
| 2 GD | Genetic and epidemiological databases | To be able to link virus and epidemiological data: analyse and map them, screen specific viral markers | Genetic module | -Empres-i Genetic Module endorsed by OFFLU -Presented to WHO, CDC, GISAID, EFSA, global surveillance meeting (FAO) | -Validation planned -Further developments planned -To be made available to users (researchers, influenza projects, gene observatory) |
| No. | Human- Animal interface | Purpose | Deliverables | Progress | Next Actions |
| 1 | 4-way linking | Develop a framework for linking epidemiologic and virologic information in animals and in humans | Health risks at the human-animal interface assessed | Assessment missions and workshops in 2 pilot countries (Egypt, Vietnam) | Review mission in Indonesia and to implement the project in Bangladesh |
| 2 | VCM | Contribution to the WHO Vaccine Composition Meeting | Biannual slides and report | OFFLU representations at northern and southern hemisphere WHO vaccine composition meetings | Extension of the MoU with WHO for contribution beyond year 2013 |