Introduction
This project involves five individual work packages listed below, each focused on one of the five project objectives. Linkages between the work packages and the lead organisations involved are detailed in the figure below.
Schematic representation of WPs indicating lead organisations for each WP (top) WP1 subcontractors (bottom).
Work Package 1 - Collection and characterisation of C. burnetii positive samples from ruminants and humans
This WP will coordinate the prospective sampling of ruminants, primarily birth materials and vaginal swabs, but also from wildlife, in years 1 and 2 of the project through Q fever surveillance laboratories in the partner countries.
Work Package 2 - Optimisation of C. burnetii isolation methodologies
This WP will optimise current protocols for isolation of C. burnetii from positive field samples by reducing contaminants and enriching bacterial load prior to cell culture and axenic inoculation.
Work Package 3 - C. burnetii whole genome sequencing (WGS)
C. burnetii strains (>200) representing the diversity of strains from different hosts (livestock and human) and clinical outcomes will be selected for WGS and phylogenetic analysis.
Work Package 4 - Functional genomics of C. burnetii isolates
Virulence and host adaptation of C. burnetii strains will be assessed in host-specific cell assays. In silico models will also map metadata (WP1) and experimental data (WP3) for strains to explore genotype-phenotype-host associations.
Work Package 5 - Establishing a Pan-European network for One Health C. burnetii surveillance.
Collating data from WP1 – 4, this WP aims to establish standardized protocols for the monitoring and genetic characterization of C. burnetii across Europe.
