Uganda Schistosomiasis Symposium 2023: Understanding Morbidity Drivers and Developing Controlled Human Infection Models for Vaccine Research.

Abstract

This article presents the proceedings of a symposium held in Uganda, which focused on schistosomiasis research and the development of controlled human infection (CHI) studies for helminth vaccine development in Africa. The symposium brought together local and international partners to discuss the drivers of schistosomal morbidity and potential strategies for vaccine development. The symposium covered a variety of topics, including the current status of schistosomiasis in Uganda, healthcare-seeking behaviour in schistosomiasis-endemic communities, health education programmes, and the efficacy of praziquantel in preschool-aged children. Vaccine development was also discussed, with a particular focus on an Sm-p80 antigen-based vaccine. The symposium also highlighted the importance of CHI models for helminth research and presented findings on schistosomiasis-associated morbidity. Studies of snails and citizen science approaches for surveillance were also discussed. The article concludes by emphasising the need for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and implementers to ensure that research findings translate into effective policies and interventions for schistosomiasis control.