Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes und Medizinische Fakultät der Universität des Saarlandes
Global Health and tropical medicine
Leitung: Prof. Dr. Dr. Sören Becker

Global Health and tropical medicine

Global Health and Tropical Medicine

The world’s tropical and subtropical areas are not only exposed to special circumstances due to climatic conditions, but also to many specific infectious diseases and certain challenges such as inadequate access to healthcare, poverty, and insufficient sanitation. Besides infectious diseases, there is also an increasing ‘dual burden’ due to the advent of non-communicable diseases.

Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (Becker, Sy, Schneitler)

For many years, the IMMH has had two main areas of focus within the framework of existing cooperation’s, especially in Côte d'Ivoire and Indonesia. Research into parasitic diseases with improved diagnostics, for example using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and the implementation of improved diagnostics in tropical/subtropical regions, especially for Strongyloides stercoralis. In addition, research into interactions between neglected tropical diseases and non-communicable diseases is constantly coming to the foreground, with the aid and evaluation of new diagnostics such as the Fibroscan.

 

Current projects:

  • Improvement of laboratory diagnostics of strongyloidiasis and other neglected tropical diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in reference laboratories on five Indonesian islands (within the framework of a clinic partnership project)
  • Influence of higher grade liver damage and Schistosoma infection on the incidence and clinical severity of malaria in West Africa
  • The use of a new and innovative diagnostic tool (MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry) for the identification of helminths of medical and veterinary importance

 

Selected publications by members of the research group covering this topic:

  • Feucherolles et al. (2022) Combination of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and machine learning for rapid antimicrobial resistance screening: the case of Campylobacter spp. Front Microbiol 12:804484. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.804484
  • Sy et al. (2021) Identification of adult Fasciola spp. using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Microorganisms 9:82. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010082
  • Monemo et al. (2020) Pharyngeal carriage of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus species and seroprevalence of anti-streptococcal antibodies in children in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. Trop Med Infect Dis 5:177.
  • Kridaningsih et al. (2020) Epidemiology and risk factors of human Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Papua, Indonesia: a molecular diagnostic study. Acta Tropica 209:105575
  • Müller-Schulte et al. (2020) High prevalence of ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in clinical samples from central Côte d’Ivoire. Int J Infect Dis. 91:207-209.

Funding sources:

  • UdS
  • The National Fund for Science, Technology and Innovation (FONSTI - Ivory Coast)

 

Group members:

  • Marie Leibenguth, cand.med.
  • Issa Sy, PhD candidate
  • Sophie Schneitler
  • Sören Becker

Travel Medicine and Travel associated Diseases (Schneitler, Becker)

The German population is one of the most travelling populations. COVID-19 is the best example for the impact of travelers to carry infectious diseases worldwide. The Outpatient clinic for Travel Medicine and Tropical Medicine has a trans-regional focus on travel- and tropical-associated diseases and conducts health services research in this area. In addition, a second focus of the outpatient clinic is to evaluate and implement aspects of sustainability.

 

Current projects:

  • Multicenter study: Gastrointestinal colonization with multi-resistant bacteria and C. difficile in people returning from the greater Saar-Lor-Lux region.
  • Analysis of vaccination behavior with regard to national regulations according to STIKO and in connection with travel behavior
  • Side-effect analysis of COVID-19 vaccination in health facilities compared to a standardized control
  • gesund weltwärts - multicenter study to investigate the impact of structured pre- and baseline screening for young adults in the weltwärts program

 

Interested students and researcher in this topic are welcomed to collaborate with us. If you are interested, please feel free to contact Sophie Schneitler or Sören Becker via Email (Sophie.Schneitler @uks.eu / soeren.becker @uks.eu) or phone (+49 6841 162 3968).

 

Selected publications by members of the research group covering this topic:

  • Dal-Ré et al. (2022) The limited availability of oral antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 infection will require an ethical prescribing approach. Lancet Infectious Diseases (accepted).
  • Becker et al. (2021) Application of a POC-CCA rapid diagnostic test and serology for detection of schistosomiasis in HIV-positive individuals in urban Malawi. Acta Tropica 224:106142. DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106142
  • Wendel et al. (2021). Evaluating different storage media for identification of Taenia saginata proglottids using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Microorganisms 9:2006. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102006
    • Schneitler et al. (2021) Experiences with pre-travel diagnostic PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2: Challenges and opportunities. J Travel Med. taab116. DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taab116. PMID: 34323275.
    • Schneitler et al. (2020) Simple Questionnaires to Improve Pooling Strategies for SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Testing. Ann Glob Health. 86:148. DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3126.

     

    Funding sources:

    • Bundesland Saarland, Landesforschungsförderung

     

    Group members:

    • Tobias Kaspers, cand. med.
    • Eli Neser, cand. med.
    • Cosima Berdin, cand. med.
    • Lisa Klein, cand. med.
    • Katharina Rau, cand. med.
    • Nico Thul, cand. med.
    • Sören Becker
    • Sophie Schneitler