Promotion of cardiovascular health in Africa: the Alliance for Medical Research in Africa (AMedRA) expert panel

This proposed scientific statement is focused on providing new insights regarding challenges and opportunities for cardiovascular health (CVH) promotion in Africa. The statement includes an overview of the current state of CVH in Africa, with a particular interest in the cardiometabolic risk factors and their evaluation through metrics. The statement also explains the main principles of primordial prevention, its relevance in reducing noncommunicable disease and the different strategies that have been effective worldwide. Also, the statement addresses challenges for implementing primordial prevention strategies in Africa, such as socioeconomic, cultural, lifestyle, and environmental factors, and highlights the importance of adapting strategies to the context. Finally, the statement recommends fundamental approaches for promoting CVH with the help of various partnerships and the involvement of communities

Long-term cellular immunity of vaccines for Zaire Ebola Virus Diseases

Recent Ebola outbreaks underscore the importance of continuous prevention and disease control efforts. Authorized vaccines include Merck’s Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) and Johnson & Johnson’s two-dose combination (Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo). Here, in a five-year follow-up of the PREVAC randomized trial (NCT02876328), we report the results of the immunology ancillary study of the trial. The primary endpoint is to evaluate long-term memory T-cell responses induced by three vaccine regimens: Ad26–MVA, rVSV, and rVSV–booster. Polyfunctional EBOV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses increase after Ad26 priming and are further boosted by MVA, whereas minimal responses are observed in the rVSV groups, declining after one year. In-vitro expansion for eight days show sustained EBOV-specific T-cell responses for up to 60 months post-prime vaccination with both Ad26-MVA and rVSV, with no decline. Cytokine production analysis identify shared biomarkers between the Ad26-MVA and rVSV groups. In secondary endpoint, we observed an elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines at Day 7 in the rVSV group. Finally, we establish a correlation between EBOV-specific T-cell responses and anti-EBOV IgG responses. Our findings can guide booster vaccination recommendations and help identify populations likely to benefit from revaccination

Long-term cellular immunity of vaccines for Zaire Ebola Virus Diseases

Recent Ebola outbreaks underscore the importance of continuous prevention and disease control efforts. Authorized vaccines include Merck’s Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) and Johnson & Johnson’s two-dose combination (Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo). Here, in a five-year follow-up of the PREVAC randomized trial (NCT02876328), we report the results of the immunology ancillary study of the trial. The primary endpoint is to evaluate long-term memory T-cell responses induced by three vaccine regimens: Ad26–MVA, rVSV, and rVSV–booster. Polyfunctional EBOV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses increase after Ad26 priming and are further boosted by MVA, whereas minimal responses are observed in the rVSV groups, declining after one year. In-vitro expansion for eight days show sustained EBOV-specific T-cell responses for up to 60 months post-prime vaccination with both Ad26-MVA and rVSV, with no decline. Cytokine production analysis identify shared biomarkers between the Ad26-MVA and rVSV groups. In secondary endpoint, we observed an elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines at Day 7 in the rVSV group. Finally, we establish a correlation between EBOV-specific T-cell responses and anti-EBOV IgG responses. Our findings can guide booster vaccination recommendations and help identify populations likely to benefit from revaccination

Evaluation of waning of IgG antibody responses after rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP and Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola virus disease vaccines: a modelling study from the PREVAC randomized trial.

rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP and Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo are WHO-prequalified vaccination regimens against Ebola virus disease (EVD). Challenges associated with measuring long-term clinical protection warrant the evaluation of immune response kinetics after vaccination. Data from a large phase 2 randomized double-blind clinical trial (PREVAC) were used to evaluate waning of anti-Ebola virus (EBOV) glycoprotein (GP1,2) antibody concentrations after rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP or Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo vaccination with linear mixed-effect regression models. After a post-vaccination peak, each vaccination strategy was associated with a decrease of anti-EBOV GP1,2 antibody concentrations with distinct kinetics, highlighting a less-rapid decline in antibody levels after vaccination by rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP. One year after administration of the vaccine, antibody concentrations were higher in children compared to adults for both vaccines, although with different effect sizes: 1.74-fold higher concentrations (95% confidence interval [CI] [1.48; 2.02]) for children 12-17 years old to 3.10-fold higher concentrations (95% CI [2.58; 3.69]) for those 1-4 years old compared to adults for Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo versus 1.36-fold (95% CI [1.12; 1.61]) to 1.41-fold (95% CI [1.21; 1.62]) higher than these values for adults, with relatively small changes from one age category of children to another, for rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP. Antibody concentrations also differed according to geographical location, pre-vaccination antibody concentration, and sex. In combination with knowledge on memory response, characterization of the major determinants of immune response durability of both vaccinations may guide future EVD control protocols.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02876328

La governance della lotta contro l'ebola nella Repubblica di Guinea e la produzione di cittadinanza

Diese Arbeit analysiert die Reaktionen und Mobilisierungen der Gemeinschaft im Angesicht von Ebola und deren Managementtechnologien in der Republik Guinea zwischen Dezember 2013 und Juni 2016. Sie geht von der Beobachtung aus, dass es trotz der Pluralität der beteiligten Akteure, der mobilisierten Technologien und der vielgestaltigen Investitionen zu einem Anstieg der gewaltsamen Manifestationen und der Widerstandshaltungen in den Gemeinden kam, mit einem entsprechenden Anstieg der Fälle von Infektionen und Todesfällen.Um das Verständnis dieser Reaktionen und Mobilisierungen, die wir unter dem Begriff des bürgerschaftlichen Engagements verstehen, zu beleuchten, mobilisieren wir einen symmetrischen Anthropologie-Ansatz (Lavigne Delville, 2011; Latour, 1991), um sowohl die historischen, soziopolitischen und ethno-kulturellen Kontexte Guineas als auch die Governance-Modi der Epidemie in der Republik Guinea zu hinterfragen. Indem wir unsere Überlegungen in einen post-epidemischen Kontext ausdehnen, in dem bestimmte Initiativen zur Erprobung von Impfstoffen gegen Ebola stattgefunden haben, versucht diese Arbeit auch herauszufinden, inwieweit die Konstruktionen und Dynamiken der Staatsbürgerschaft während der Epidemie die Governance-Modi des öffentlichen Handelns in der Republik Guinea am Beispiel der PREVAC-Impfstoffstudie beeinflusst haben.Diese Arbeit basiert auf dem theoretischen Rahmen der Anthropologie der öffentlichen Gesundheitspolitik und des Epidemiemanagements. Genauer gesagt leihen wir uns Ebokos (2005) dissonantes Modell der Public Policy-Analyse, das sich auf die Tradition des sequenziellen Ansatzes von Jones (1970) stützt, um eine Analyse der Governance des Kampfes gegen Ebola in Guinea durchzuführen, die als eine Form des öffentlichen Handelns betrachtet wird (Fred Eboko, 2015).This thesis analyses community reactions and mobilizations in the face of Ebola and its management technologies in the Republic of Guinea between December 2013 and June 2016. It starts from the observation that, despite the plurality of actors involved, the technologies mobilized and the multiform investments, there was an increase in violent demonstrations and attitudes of community resistance, with a consequent increase in cases of infection and death.In order to shed light on the understanding of these reactions and mobilizations, which we apprehend from the concept of citizen engagement, we mobilize a symmetrical anthropological approach (Lavigne Delville, 2011; Latour, 1991) in order to interrogate both the historical, socio-political, and ethno-cultural contexts of Guinea and the modes of governance of the epidemic in the Republic of Guinea. Extending our reflections into a post-epidemic context where certain vaccine trial initiatives against Ebola have taken place, this thesis also seeks to know to what extent the constructions and dynamics of citizenship during the epidemic have influenced the modes of governance of public action in the Republic of Guinea through the example of the PREVAC vaccine trial.This thesis falls within the theoretical framework of the anthropology of public health policies and epidemic management. More specifically, we borrow Eboko's (2005) dissonant model of public policy analysis, which draws on the tradition of Jones' (1970) sequential approach, in order to carry out an analysis of the governance of the fight against Ebola in Guinea, considered as a form of public action (Fred Eboko, 2015).Cette thèse analyse les réactions et mobilisations communautaires face à Ebola et aux technologies de sa gestion en République de Guinée entre décembre 2013 et juin 2016. Elle part du constat selon lequel, malgré la pluralité des acteurs engagés, des technologies mobilisées et des investissements multiformes, il y a eu une amplification des manifestations violentes et des attitudes de résistance communautaire avec comme corolaire une augmentation des cas d’infection et de décès.Afin d’éclairer la compréhension de ces réactions et mobilisations que nous appréhendons à partir du concept d’engagement citoyen, nous mobilisons une approche d’anthropologie symétrique (Lavigne Delville, 2011 ; Latour, 1991) afin d’interroger autant les contextes historiques, sociopolitiques et ethnico-culturels de la Guinée mais également les modes de gouvernance de l’épidémie en République de Guinée. Prolongeant notre réflexion dans un contexte post-épidémique ou certaines initiatives d’essais vaccinaux contre Ébola ont eu lieu, cette thèse cherche aussi à savoir dans quelle mesure les constructions et dynamiques de citoyenneté pendant l’épidémie ont pu influencer les modes de gouvernance l’action publique en République de Guinée à travers l’exemple de l’essai vaccinal PREVAC.Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre théorique de l’anthropologie des politiques publiques de santé et de gestion des épidémies. Plus spécifiquement, nous empruntons le modèle dissonant de l’analyse des politiques publiques de Eboko (2005) qui s’inspire de la tradition de l’approche séquentielle de Jones (1970) afin de réaliser une analyse de la gouvernance de la lutte contre Ebola en Guinée, considérée comme une forme d’action publique (Fred Eboko, 2015)

Adult learning in a non-western context: The influence of culture in a Senegalese farming village

In Senegal, as in many other developing countries, adult education programs still have very limited effectiveness. One of the reasons for this limited effectiveness is that few studies have been conducted to explore adults\u27 own approaches to learning. Educators generally refer to learning models that have been developed from research with Western populations living in non African different cultural contexts. There is, therefore, a need to understand adults\u27 ways of learning in other contexts, in particular, in African contexts such as rural Senegal.^ Major Western studies on adult learning are based on the humanistic assumption that there a natural tendency for adults to learn if an appropriate environment is provided (Maslow, 1970; Rogers, 1983). From this assumption, theories have been developed on adult learners\u27 characteristics (Cross, 1981; Knowles, 1970), on adults\u27 life situations (Jarvis, 1987; Knox, 1980; McClusky, 1963), and the learning process and learning behaviors (Freire, 1970a; Mezirow, 1981; Tough, 1979). Although these theories help define the adult learning domain in a Western cultural context, there is a little evidence that they generalize to different cultural contexts such as Senegal.^ The study was conducted in Senegal to explore adult farmers\u27 traditional learning practices. The general research question was to know who are the adult learners, and what, how and when do they learn? Ethnographic study was used as the instrument to conduct the study directly in a village (Hammersley, 1990) with characteristics like those of the average rural, Senegalese village. Data analysis was performed by using open and axial coding techniques.^ The study showed that the social environment, embedded in traditional culture has a strong impact on learners\u27 characteristics and learning behaviors. Learners\u27 characteristics are those ensuring conformity to the community\u27s social norms. What to learn is most determined by the learner\u27s social functions in the community. How and when to learn are among the established social norms.

Taux et déterminants de l’adoption de variétés améliorées de riz au Sénégal

En Afrique, le riz joue un rôle majeur dans l’alimentation des ménages ruraux et urbains. C’est une source et une composante fondamentale dans le régime alimentaire des ménages (Kebbeh et Miezan, 2003 ; Krupnik et al., 2012). En effet, il représente 20 % de la consommation céréalière et c’est la quatrième culture la plus importante en termes de production après le sorgho, le maïs, et le mil, dans le monde (FAOSTAT, 2016). Selon Del Villar et al. (2011), la sécurité alimentaire des ménages vulnérables de la Guinée, du Sénégal, de la Guinée-Bissau, du Liberia et de la Sierra Leone dépend étroitement de la disponibilité et de l’accès au riz. Le Sénégal, en particulier, dépense annuellement plus de 200 milliards de Franc CFA (Franc de la Communauté Financière Africaine) pour satisfaire une demande sans cesse croissante. Son importation entraîne un déficit de 16 % de la balance commerciale (ANSD, 2011). Il est clair que le manque à gagner pour les producteurs et l’économie nationale est considérable. Ainsi, pour inverser cette tendance il est indispensable que l’État du Sénégal améliore la productivité rizicole. Toutefois, accroître la productivité agricole est une tâche ardue et dépend de plus en plus de l’adoption de technologies à haut rendement (Zeller et al., 1998). Plusieurs études montrent que l’adoption de technologies améliorées permet d’accroître la productivité agricole, de surmonter la pauvreté et d’améliorer la sécurité alimentaire

Age, growth and mortality of white grouper Epinephelus aeneus from the Senegalese coast (West Africa)

International audienceThe objective of the study is to describe the length-frequency distribution, (2) to estimate the growth parameters by counting growth bands deposited on whole otolith (3) to determine the white grouper natural mortality. White grouper Epinephelus aeneus) sampled from Soumbédioune, Mbour, and Joal along the southwestern coast of Senegal in 2020 (n = 973) were aged by counting opaque bands on whole sagittal otoliths. Total length (TL) ranged from 179.0 to 948.0 mm with an average of 422.48±133.79 mm. Analysis of otolith edge type (opaque or translucent) revealed that annuli formed in July-January with a peak in November. White grouper was aged up to 8 years, and the largest fish measured 948 mm in total length (TL). The von Bertalanffy function provided the following parameters: L∞=1042 mm, K=0.13 year-1 and t0= -1.48 year. Natural mortality (M) estimated by Hewitt & Hoenig’s longevity-based method which integrates all ages was 0.50. Because this is a species with a low growth rate, the population of E. aeneus in Senegalese coast requires prudent management. Furthermore, fishery managers need to consider as part of any harvest strategy for these fish the preservation of significant levels of the spawning stock by reducing the numbers of juvenile fish captured in the shrimp trawls and for sale in the market