[New website] Get to know the PUCP Genomics Laboratory's studies on infectious diseases

The PUCP Genomics Laboratory is dedicated to the study of infectious diseases of public health importance through a genomic approach using advanced technological tools.

"We are a multidisciplinary and collaborative research space, where we execute projects that bring together diverse experts in the fields of molecular biology, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, computer modelling, epidemiology, clinical and veterinary medicine, entomology, among others," says Dr Mariana Leguía, the laboratory's director and researcher.

Dissemination platform

To carry out their research, scientists work with viral and bacterial pathogens, mainly those that are specific to our region, such as dengue. However, says Leguía, given the current situation, a series of research projects have been developed around SARS-CoV-2, with the aim of contributing to the generation of knowledge about this recent virus.

It is in this context that the Genomics Laboratory presents its website, with the aim of making the work carried out by the team more visible and creating new collaboration networks with other researchers from different institutions in the international arena.

"On the platform, in addition to the projects worked on in the lab, you can find information about the members of the research team, information about the tools we use in our scientific work and a list of the scientific articles that have been published in internationally indexed journals," says Dr Leguía.

Projects

"We have received research funding from national sources, such as Fondecyt, and international sources, such as the National Institutes of Health (US), U.S. Department of Defense (US) and the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (UK)," explains Dr Leguía.

Currently, ongoing projects are divided into three main areas:

1. Pathogen discovery, diagnosis and characterisation
2. Evaluation of changes in gene expression in response to infection and/or vaccination.
3. Development of methodology for molecular diagnostics and next-generation sequencing

On the website, we can find a section dedicated to the detailed presentation of each of the areas of study, which includes links to the associated projects, a summary of each project, the names of the researchers involved, the institutions involved and the funding bodies.

Within this group of research, we can highlight:

EpiCenter for Emerging Infectious Disease Intelligence (EEIDI)

The Centre for Epidemiological Intelligence on Emerging Infectious Diseases (EEIDI) brings together a consortium of research institutions whose purpose is to increase understanding of how viruses with pandemic potential emerge, particularly from the wildlife that inhabit our forests to surrounding rapidly urbanising environments.

• Date: 2020
• Principal Investigators: Johnson (PI), Barker (Co-PI), Coffey (Co-PI), Morrison (Co-PI), Smiley-Evans (Co-PI), Leguía (Co-I)
• Participants: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, University of California - Davis, Instituto Nacional de Salud
• Funder: NIH/NIAID (USA)

Validation of subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) molecular tests to distinguish contagious vs. non-infectious status in people infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Development and validation of qRT-PCR-based molecular tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNA.

• Date: 2020
• Researchers responsible: Leguía (PI)
• Participants: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Clínica San Felipe
• Funder: Fondecyt (Peru)