Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute Cryobank for Human and Animal Trypanosome Isolates to Support Research: Opportunities and Challenges e2747

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 8; no. 5
• Main Authors: Murilla, Grace A, Thuita, John K, Gitonga, Purity K, Kahiga, Daniel T, Auma, Joanna E, Ouma, Johnson O, Rutto, Jane J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 01-05-2014
• Subjects: Cloning; Derivatives; Disease; Economic importance; Infections; Spatial distribution; Tropical diseases; Vector-borne diseases; Uganda; Kenya
• ISSN: 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002747

The WHO steering committee on human African trypanosomiasis treatment and the East African Network for Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis (EANETT) have therefore recommended that collection of stabilates be a continuous activity in order to monitor the occurrence and spatial distribution of treatment failure [6]. Since its inception, KETRI has established an institutional policy of encouraging collection of stabilates by scientists and clinicians for cryopreservation. Advantages and Improvements of the Cryobank Advantages * A large well-preserved stock of over 2,000 trypanosome stabilates of economic importance * A unique collection of viable species of trypanosomes collected from different hosts and countries over a period of more than 50 years * A collection of clones developed from different species of trypanosomes and availability of trypanosome isolates of mixed infections Improvements * Establishment of new networks and/or strengthen the current collaborations for sustained collection and cryopreservation of human and animal infective trypanosome isolates * Replacement of the current equipment in order to reduce the liquid nitrogen usage and associated costs * Review guidelines for access to isolates Acknowledgments We wish to thank the Director KARI for permission to publish this work.