Viruses (Aug 2021)
The Origins and Future of Sentinel: An Early-Warning System for Pandemic Preemption and Response
- Yolanda Botti-Lodovico,
- Parvathy Nair,
- Dolo Nosamiefan,
- Matthew Stremlau,
- Stephen Schaffner,
- Sebastian V. Agignoae,
- John Oke Aiyepada,
- Fehintola V. Ajogbasile,
- George O. Akpede,
- Foday Alhasan,
- Kristian G. Andersen,
- Danny A. Asogun,
- Oladele Oluwafemi Ayodeji,
- Aida S. Badiane,
- Kayla Barnes,
- Matthew R. Bauer,
- Antoinette Bell-Kareem,
- Muoebonam Ekene Benard,
- Ebo Ohomoime Benevolence,
- Osiemi Blessing,
- Chloe K. Boehm,
- Matthew L. Boisen,
- Nell G. Bond,
- Luis M. Branco,
- Michael J. Butts,
- Amber Carter,
- Andres Colubri,
- Awa B. Deme,
- Katherine C. DeRuff,
- Younousse Diédhiou,
- Akhilomen Patience Edamhande,
- Siham Elhamoumi,
- Emily J. Engel,
- Philomena Eromon,
- Mosoka Fallah,
- Onikepe A. Folarin,
- Ben Fry,
- Robert Garry,
- Amy Gaye,
- Michael Gbakie,
- Sahr M. Gevao,
- Gabrielle Gionet,
- Adrianne Gladden-Young,
- Augustine Goba,
- Jules Francois Gomis,
- Anise N. Happi,
- Mary Houghton,
- Chikwe Ihekwuazu,
- Christopher Ojemiega Iruolagbe,
- Jonathan Jackson,
- Simbirie Jalloh,
- Jeremy Johnson,
- Lansana Kanneh,
- Adeyemi Kayode,
- Molly Kemball,
- Ojide Chiedozie Kingsley,
- Veronica Koroma,
- Dylan Kotliar,
- Samar Mehta,
- Hayden C. Metsky,
- Airende Michael,
- Marzieh Ezzaty Mirhashemi,
- Kayvon Modjarrad,
- Mambu Momoh,
- Cameron A. Myhrvold,
- Okonofua Grace Naregose,
- Tolla Ndiaye,
- Mouhamadou Ndiaye,
- Aliou Ndiaye,
- Erica Normandin,
- Ikponmwosa Odia,
- Judith Uche Oguzie,
- Sylvanus A. Okogbenin,
- Peter O. Okokhere,
- Johnson Okolie,
- Idowu B. Olawoye,
- Testimony J. Olumade,
- Paul E. Oluniyi,
- Omigie Omoregie,
- Daniel J. Park,
- Mariétou Faye Paye,
- Brittany Petros,
- Anthony A. Philippakis,
- Abechi Priscilla,
- Alan Ricks,
- Anne Rimoin,
- John Demby Sandi,
- John S. Schieffelin,
- Monica Schreiber,
- Mame Cheikh Seck,
- Sameed Siddiqui,
- Katherine Siddle,
- Allison R. Smither,
- Mouhamad Sy,
- Ngayo Sy,
- Christopher H. Tomkins-Tinch,
- Oyewale Tomori,
- Chinedu Ugwu,
- Jessica N. Uwanibe,
- Eghosasere Anthonia Uyigue,
- Dada Ireti Victoria,
- Anika Vinzé,
- Megan E. Vodzak,
- Nicole Welch,
- Haja Isatta Wurie,
- Daba Zoumarou,
- Donald S. Grant,
- Daouda Ndiaye,
- Bronwyn MacInnis,
- Pardis C. Sabeti,
- Christian Happi
Affiliations
- Yolanda Botti-Lodovico
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Parvathy Nair
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Dolo Nosamiefan
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Matthew Stremlau
- Equator Labs Incorporated, Washington, DC 20011, USA
- Stephen Schaffner
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Sebastian V. Agignoae
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- John Oke Aiyepada
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Fehintola V. Ajogbasile
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- George O. Akpede
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Foday Alhasan
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Kristian G. Andersen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Danny A. Asogun
- Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
- Oladele Oluwafemi Ayodeji
- Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
- Aida S. Badiane
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Kayla Barnes
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Matthew R. Bauer
- Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Antoinette Bell-Kareem
- Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Muoebonam Ekene Benard
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Ebo Ohomoime Benevolence
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Osiemi Blessing
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Chloe K. Boehm
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Matthew L. Boisen
- Zalgen Labs, Germantown, MD 20876, USA
- Nell G. Bond
- Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Luis M. Branco
- Zalgen Labs, Germantown, MD 20876, USA
- Michael J. Butts
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Amber Carter
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Andres Colubri
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Awa B. Deme
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Katherine C. DeRuff
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Younousse Diédhiou
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Akhilomen Patience Edamhande
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Siham Elhamoumi
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Emily J. Engel
- Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Philomena Eromon
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Mosoka Fallah
- Refuge Place International, Bassa Town, Lower Johnsonville, Liberia
- Onikepe A. Folarin
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Ben Fry
- Fathom Information Design, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Robert Garry
- Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Amy Gaye
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Michael Gbakie
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Sahr M. Gevao
- University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Gabrielle Gionet
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Adrianne Gladden-Young
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Augustine Goba
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Jules Francois Gomis
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Anise N. Happi
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Mary Houghton
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Chikwe Ihekwuazu
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Christopher Ojemiega Iruolagbe
- Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Jonathan Jackson
- Dimagi, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Simbirie Jalloh
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Jeremy Johnson
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Lansana Kanneh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Adeyemi Kayode
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Molly Kemball
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Ojide Chiedozie Kingsley
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Nigeria
- Veronica Koroma
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Dylan Kotliar
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Samar Mehta
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MA 21201, USA
- Hayden C. Metsky
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Airende Michael
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Marzieh Ezzaty Mirhashemi
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Kayvon Modjarrad
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
- Mambu Momoh
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Cameron A. Myhrvold
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Okonofua Grace Naregose
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Tolla Ndiaye
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Mouhamadou Ndiaye
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Aliou Ndiaye
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Erica Normandin
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Ikponmwosa Odia
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Judith Uche Oguzie
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Sylvanus A. Okogbenin
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Peter O. Okokhere
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Johnson Okolie
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Idowu B. Olawoye
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Testimony J. Olumade
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Paul E. Oluniyi
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Omigie Omoregie
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Daniel J. Park
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Mariétou Faye Paye
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Brittany Petros
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Anthony A. Philippakis
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Abechi Priscilla
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Alan Ricks
- MASS Design Group, Boston, MA 02116, USA
- Anne Rimoin
- Department of Epidemiology, Jonathan and Karing Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- John Demby Sandi
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- John S. Schieffelin
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Monica Schreiber
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Mame Cheikh Seck
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Sameed Siddiqui
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Katherine Siddle
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Allison R. Smither
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Mouhamad Sy
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Ngayo Sy
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Christopher H. Tomkins-Tinch
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Oyewale Tomori
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Chinedu Ugwu
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Jessica N. Uwanibe
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Eghosasere Anthonia Uyigue
- Institute of Lassa Fever, Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria
- Dada Ireti Victoria
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Anika Vinzé
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Megan E. Vodzak
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Nicole Welch
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Haja Isatta Wurie
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Daba Zoumarou
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
- Donald S. Grant
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Daouda Ndiaye
- Department of Biological Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Bronwyn MacInnis
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Pardis C. Sabeti
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Christian Happi
- African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/v13081605
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 13,
no. 8
p. 1605
Abstract
While investigating a signal of adaptive evolution in humans at the gene LARGE, we encountered an intriguing finding by Dr. Stefan Kunz that the gene plays a critical role in Lassa virus binding and entry. This led us to pursue field work to test our hypothesis that natural selection acting on LARGE—detected in the Yoruba population of Nigeria—conferred resistance to Lassa Fever in some West African populations. As we delved further, we conjectured that the “emerging” nature of recently discovered diseases like Lassa fever is related to a newfound capacity for detection, rather than a novel viral presence, and that humans have in fact been exposed to the viruses that cause such diseases for much longer than previously suspected. Dr. Stefan Kunz’s critical efforts not only laid the groundwork for this discovery, but also inspired and catalyzed a series of events that birthed Sentinel, an ambitious and large-scale pandemic prevention effort in West Africa. Sentinel aims to detect and characterize deadly pathogens before they spread across the globe, through implementation of its three fundamental pillars: Detect, Connect, and Empower. More specifically, Sentinel is designed to detect known and novel infections rapidly, connect and share information in real time to identify emerging threats, and empower the public health community to improve pandemic preparedness and response anywhere in the world. We are proud to dedicate this work to Stefan Kunz, and eagerly invite new collaborators, experts, and others to join us in our efforts.
Keywords
- pandemic preemption
- pandemic response
- diagnostic tools
- bioinformatics
- genomic surveillance
- infectious disease
