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Dr. Jahangir Hossain’s research areas are on diarrhoea diseases, infectious diseases outbreak investigations and vaccine trial.

Current research projects and vaccine trial
1. Enterics for Global Health (EFGH): Shigella surveillance study.
Summary: This study is going on in 7 sites of Africa, Asia and South America. Jahangir Hossain is co-ordinating this study in The Gambia. Our previous studies (Global Enteric Multi-center study, GEMS and Vaccine Impact on diarrhea in Africa, VIDA) documented that Shigella is the leading cause of acute diarrhoea and dysentery, and associated with persistent and prolong diarrhoea, growth faltering, long term morbidity and mortality. Several shigella vaccines are in development and preparatory efforts for sites readiness for potential phase IIb and phase III are needed. This study is to determine the incidence of Shigella-attributed MAD in children 6 to 35 months of age, to determine the incidence of Shigella MAD by serotype, severity definition, laboratory method (culture vs. qPCR), age, and by season, to assess prevalence of antibiotic resistance to commonly used antibiotics in Shigella isolates, and quantify the cost incurred by families and health care systems due to Shigella morbidity and mortality.

2. Genomic Epidemiology and Transmission of Campylobacter in Africa (GETCampy-Africa)
Summary: The central aim of the project is to implement modern genomic epidemiology to investigate cryptic transmission networks of Campylobacter and other enteropathogens in the populations at the greatest risk. The specific aims of the project are: 1. Characterize genomes of Campylobacter strains that cause diarrhoeal disease in humans, 2. Identify the sources of human Campylobacter infection and 3. Develop novel machine learning tools for rapid source attribution.

3. An individually-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial (OEV-128) examining the efficacy of oral inactivated ETVAX vaccine to prevent enterotoxigenic E. coli-associated diarrhoea in Gambian children ages 6 to 18 months.
Summary: Dr. Jahangir Hossain coordinated this study to enroll 4936 children aged 6-18 months. The study participants were enrolled over 16 months in North Bank, part of lower river and central regions. The study was to assess safety, efficacy and immunogenicity. The study has just completed. The data analysis is going on and study has been found to be safe.

Other recent research projects
4. Vaccine Impact on Diarrhoea in Africa (VIDA)
Summary: The study was conducted after introduction of rotavirus vaccine in The Gambia. The study assessed diarrheal burden, etiology, clinical and nutritional consequence of diarrhoeal illnesses in children less than 5 years after rotavirus vaccine introduction.

5. Diarrhoeal Disease in Infants and Young Children in Developing Countries (GEMS)
Summary: The study was to assess the diarrhoeal burden, etiology and clinical consequence of diarrheal illness in children less than 5 years. The study found that rotavirus was the major pathogen of diarrhoeal illnesses. The study findings promote and encourage the government of The Gambia to introduce rotavirus vaccine in The Gambia.

6. Suspected epidemic of Meningococcus W135 in The Gambia: Risk factors for meningococcal disease in Gambia:
Summary: An outbreak of Meningococcus W135 identified in the eastern part of The Gambia. Jahangir Hossain coordinated this outbreak investigation to risk factors and transmission of Meningococcus W135 infection in The Gambia. MRCG research team collaboratively worked with Ministry of Health. The collaborative team developed and disseminate a guideline to prevent and control of meningococcal infections.