[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/6168\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ETeaming up against tropical diseases\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is an example of how scientists are tackling local problems by taking research to one of the most far-flung corners of the EU.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrench Guiana is an overseas region of France, situated at the northern end of South America. About 90 % of French Guiana is tropical rainforest \u2013 the largest forest in the European Union \u2013 with extraordinarily diverse flora and fauna.\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003E\u2018The Vectopole will help the scientists perform experiments that were not possible before.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EAng\u00e9lina Azanza, Institut Pasteur, Cayenne, French Guiana\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut rapid population growth and expansion from the coastal zone into previously forested areas exposes French Guiana\u2019s inhabitants to diseases, such as human cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory infection carried by rodents. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHumans are infected with\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan\u003Ehantavirus pulmonary syndrome\u003C\/span\u003E via the newly identified Maripa virus, which is believed to be spread through the urine and faeces of rodents that live in the forest but come into contact with humans when their habitat is disturbed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Deforestation and urbanisation are the main contributing factors,\u2019 said Sophie Groene-Lacoste, communication officer for the EU-funded STRonGer project which is based in French Guiana\u2019s capital Cayenne.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The population is more and more in contact with fauna, and these animals\u2019 living conditions are disturbed. That can be a cause of the emergence of viruses and resulting diseases,\u2019 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a result, the STRonGer project, which was set up to improve coordination of tropical disease research and treatment in French Guiana, has boosted research into the role that small mammals play in the cycle of different diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECapacity and collaboration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is part of a concerted effort to strengthen research capacity and collaboration in the region to tackle diseases that are not often encountered in continental Europe.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022ecl-gallery\u0022 data-ecl-auto-init=\u0022Gallery\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-visible-items=\u00228\u0022 data-ecl-gallery\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022ecl-gallery__list\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022ecl-gallery__item\u0022\u003E\u003Ca\n href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/Pasteur_216.jpg\u0022\n data-ecl-gallery-item\n class=\u0022ecl-gallery__item-link\u0022aria-label=\u0022The newly-established Vectopole contains a biosafety level 3 laboratory, which provides a safe way of handling viruses that may cause severe illness or death. Image: Institut Pasteur de la Guyane\u0022\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022ecl-gallery__image-container\u0022\u003E\u003Cpicture class=\u0022ecl-picture ecl-gallery__picture\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg \n class=\u0022ecl-gallery__image\u0022\n src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/Pasteur_216.jpg\u0022\n alt=\u0022The newly-established Vectopole contains a biosafety level 3 laboratory, which provides a safe way of handling viruses that may cause severe illness or death. Image: Institut Pasteur de la Guyane\u0022 \n \/\u003E\u003C\/picture\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\n class=\u0022ecl-gallery__description\u0022\n data-ecl-gallery-description\n \u003EThe newly-established Vectopole contains a biosafety level 3 laboratory, which provides a safe way of handling viruses that may cause severe illness or death. Image: Institut Pasteur de la Guyane\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ecl-gallery__footer\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ecl-gallery__info\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong class=\u0022ecl-gallery__info-total\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-count\u003E0\u003C\/strong\u003Emedia items\u003Cbutton class=\u0022ecl-button ecl-button--ghost ecl-gallery__view-all\u0022 type=\u0022submit\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-all data-ecl-gallery-collapsed-label=\u0022See\u0026#x20;all\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-expanded-label=\u0022Collapse\u0022\u003ESee all\u003C\/button\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdialog class=\u0022ecl-gallery__overlay\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-overlay\u003E\u003Cheader class=\u0022ecl-gallery__close\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-overlay-header\u003E\u003Cbutton class=\u0022ecl-button ecl-button--ghost ecl-gallery__close-button\u0022 type=\u0022submit\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-close\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022ecl-button__container\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022ecl-button__label\u0022 data-ecl-label=\u0022true\u0022\u003EClose\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Csvg\n class=\u0022ecl-icon ecl-icon--s ecl-button__icon ecl-button__icon--after\u0022\n focusable=\u0022false\u0022\n aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\n data-ecl-icon\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/contrib\/oe_theme\/dist\/ec\/images\/icons\/sprites\/icons.svg#close\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/button\u003E\u003C\/header\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022ecl-gallery__slider\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ecl-gallery__slider-media-container\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-overlay-media\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E\u003Cfooter class=\u0022ecl-gallery__detail\u0022 data-ecl-gallery-overlay-footer\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ecl-container\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ecl-gallery__detail-actions\u0022\u003E\u003Ca\n href=\u0022\u0022\n class=\u0022ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after ecl-gallery__share\u0022\n data-ecl-gallery-overlay-share\n\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022ecl-link__label\u0022\u003EShare\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Csvg\n class=\u0022ecl-icon ecl-icon--fluid ecl-link__icon\u0022\n focusable=\u0022false\u0022\n aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\n \u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/contrib\/oe_theme\/dist\/ec\/images\/icons\/sprites\/icons.svg#share\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\n class=\u0022ecl-gallery__detail-description\u0022\n data-ecl-gallery-overlay-description\n \u003EThe newly-established Vectopole contains a biosafety level 3 laboratory, which provides a safe way of handling viruses that may cause severe illness or death. Image: Institut Pasteur de la Guyane\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ecl-gallery__pager\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ecl-gallery__detail-counter\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan data-ecl-gallery-overlay-counter-current\u003E0\u003C\/span\u003E \/ \u003Cspan data-ecl-gallery-overlay-counter-max\u003E0\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/footer\u003E\u003C\/dialog\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe roll-call of disease in the region in the last couple of decades includes many cases of dengue fever, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and Q fever, as well as French Guiana\u2019s first human case of rabies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany infectious agents are transmitted by arthropods, such as mosquitoes or ticks, which act as so-called vectors to carry the pathogen from an animal to humans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn order to improve research on these disease vectors, STRonGer has set up a new research facility, known as a \u2018Vectopole\u2019, to improve knowledge about how these pathogens are transmitted to humans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Mosquitoes are the main vectors of disease in French Guiana and the Vectopole will help the scientists perform experiments that were not possible before,\u2019 said Ang\u00e9lina Azanza, coordinator of STRonGer, based at the Institut Pasteur in Cayenne.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the last four years, STRonGer has contributed to the development of a regional biomedical research strategy, established three additional research laboratories focusing on immunology, virus-host infections and parasitology, and recruited eight research scientists, a bioinformatics engineer and a clinical research assistant.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESmart specialisation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project is an example of the EU\u0027s policy of smart specialisation, which aims to boost research and innovation in Europe\u0027s less developed regions by concentrating investment in areas where it can have the greatest impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn order to develop French Guiana\u0027s expertise in tropical disease, the project has worked with experts from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Portugal and France.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt has also played a role in widening cooperation in the region, such as with researchers from Brazil and Suriname, which share many of the same tropical flora and fauna, and similar equatorial health hazards.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGroene-Lacoste says it has been important to have a strong research presence on the ground.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We have a multidisciplinary scientific task force, of which field workers (are) here, and we also have people who are expert in carrying out research in the forest, so it makes sense that the medical and scientific research is carried out right here in the region,\u2019 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-ino39rd72yjejfrhn3-cruwh8os9-q7llxvjbvfdk3w\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-iNo39RD72yJEJFRHn3-cRUwH8oS9-Q7LlxVjBvfdK3w\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]