The aim of this project is to develop research infrastructures in academia and the private sector for the comparative analysis of human milk with three locally traded animal milks. These will be sheep and goats (domestic sheep and goats) and cattle from different regions. In particular, a high-quality, quantitative and qualitative study will be conducted for the analysis of the membranes and intracellular composition of the major classes of secreted extracellular vesicles and other microparticle sizes. The long term aim is to establish topological networks of phylogenetic distance across human biopolymers. The proposed multilevel bioinformatics analysis will show which animal milk has the highest phylogenetic affinity for human milk based on specific nucleotide and amino acid sequences, and thus the highest nutritional value for neonates. Application of high-throughput techniques in combination with comparative genomic analysis of mRNAs, non-coding RNAs, proteins, and small molecules that bind or are encapsulated in secreted lipid membranes (exosomes). Exosomes represent packages carrying regulated conserved sets of functionally enriched biopolymers, which if understood will enable the molecular fingerprinting of a large number of animal sources with regards to their similarity to human breast milk. The present study will also examine the comparison of existing milk processing techniques for which it is most nutritionally and medically appropriate, as well as the certification of innovative milk production and maintenance methods. Finally, it will create the necessary scientific and technological bases in the academy for the manufacture and production of specially modified extracellular vesicles (exosomes) as natural breastfeeding medical supplements in animal milk and thereby enhance the specially-prepared high-quality animal milk with immediate beneficial and therapeutic effect for infants, and in particular early infants, or infants suffering from a series of metabolic and developmental syndromes.

Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus are two genera of the negative sense RNA virus family Filoviridae, order mononegavirales. Filoviruses cause rare but fatal viral hemorrhagic fevers-VHF in equatorial Africa--with potential for regional and international urban spread. Both virus associated VHFs present with a similar prodrome; mimicking several tropical infectious diseases. Early detection is important for mobilizing swift response and control. Existing technologies for filovirus detection are not suited for point of care (POC) use, being expensive, not fast-enough and requiring laboratory facilities absent in many villages where index cases occur. While 2 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have recently emerged detecting EBOV at the point of care (POC), there are no pan-filovirus targeted RDTs. This project could yield the 1st ever prototypes of RDTs for the duo-detection of EBOV and MARV. Pan-filovirus RDTs are required to ensure early detection, response and control of the on-going and future outbreaks. Moreover, the mAbs presented are candidate therapeutics.

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