EMPERIE

European Management Platform for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious disease Entities

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The EMPERIE (European Management Platform for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious disease Entities) consortium has its roots in the lessons learned by the majority of the participating centres during the recent SARS and HPAI H5N1 outbreaks. The mission of EMPERIE is “to contribute to effectively countering the potential public health threat caused by new and emerging infectious diseases in Europe by establishing a powerful network capable of structural and systematic prediction, identification, modelling and surveillance of infectious diseases health threats and pathogens”. In pursuit of this mission EMPERIE will establish a network of centres of excellence combining the expertise, techniques and resources necessary for effectively countering (re)-emerging infectious diseases. We will establish common processes, procedures and communication channels in the network linked to relevant stakeholder organisations and local “grass root”” sites to contribute to a structural and systematic prediction, identification, modelling and surveillance of (re-)emerging infectious disease health threats and pathogens. Our focus will be new zoonotic viruses that may cause epidemics and viruses already present – but yet unrecognised- in humans. Within this focus, we will attain proof of principle of the functioning of the network and the techniques, systems, procedures and resources in the following RNA viruses: Flaviviruses (e.g. Dengue, West-Nile virus), Alphaviruses (e.g. Chikungunya), Orthomyxoviruses (e.g. Influenza), Paramyxoviruses (e.g Henipah,) Coronaviruses, Bunyaviruses ( e.g. hantavirus) and Filoviruses'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Rapid anthropogenic, social and environmental changes have led to the emergence of many previously unrecognised infectious diseases. A more effective approach to new viral epidemics is essential now more than ever.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The 5-year EU-funded project 'European management platform for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease entities' (http://www.emperie.eu (EMPERIE)), involving 11 international participants, was completed in 2014. The mission was to address the public health threat caused by new and emerging infectious diseases. For this purpose, project partners established a network capable of prediction, early detection, identification, modelling and surveillance of pathogens.

Rapid identification of pathogens gives public health authorities the needed knowledge and time to prepare and implement emergency measures. EMPERIE built a virus discovery pipeline using advanced technologies to rapidly detect and characterise novel viruses. The project resulted in a discovery of over 40 new viruses. EMPERIE scientists discovered the Schmallenberg virus and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), as well as multiple novel viruses in mammals, insectivores and arthropods.

During the course of the project, virus discovery and bioinformatics protocols underwent optimisation, ensuring its continued operations. The resulting world's most successful virus discovery network may be activated whenever a novel virus challenge emerges.

Research findings have been described in over 240 peer-reviewed publications. Project accomplishments include rapid research responses to H1N1, H7N9 and MERS-CoV. In addition, identification of genes involved in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV virulence lead to the development of novel vaccine candidates.

EMPERIE developed novel computational methods, epidemiological models and software for analysing emerging outbreaks and mitigation strategies. These techniques were used by public health partners, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), to respond to the H1N1 pandemic and the ongoing MERS-CoV outbreak. The governments of China, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States used approaches and tools developed by EMPERIE.

In addition, EMPERIE built close working relationships with international partners in Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal and Vietnam, providing training to clinical, support and laboratory staff. The network built by EMPERIE has already proved its capacity to increase public safety during viral outbreaks on an international scale.