Work in the lab is progressing, and it finally looks as though I may be able to begin my community vision study this week. Here's an update on my projects...
1. Evaluation of Physical Fitness in Children with Chronic Early Childhood Diarrhea
We finished data analysis for this project, although the results were a bit underwhelming. We may extend this study to a second community in Fortaleza, but this is not a high priority right now.
2. PCR Diagnosis of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Enteroaggregative E Coli
We have two of these three tests functioning, and I should be able to get the final test (for an organism called Giardia) working now that I have finally received a critical positive control sample to validate the assay. Then, I'll just be waiting for the start of rainy season to begin collecting hundreds of stool samples to test for each of these three organisms. Rainy season could arrive any week, as we've begun to receive brief early morning rains a few days a week.
3. Sequencing of various Genes in Cryptosporidium and Enteroaggregative E Coli
This is a new project that I have been assigned in the wake of my certification as a DNA sequencer. We'll try to select genes that might be important determinants for virulence to sequence. This will allow us to determine why some who are infected with Cryptosporidium and EAggEC get ill and have other long-term morbidity, while others have fewer problems and little long-term morbidity. I'll help get this sequencing project going this spring in the form of a pilot study, but this project will continue long after I leave Fortaleza in May.
4. Evaluation of Visual Function in Children
This is a project that I conceived and have pushed through all steps of the ethical approval process. Sicne receiving approval, I have been waiting for two weeks to receive the approved consent form for my study which needed a stamp from the chair of the local ethical committee. Finally with this critical stamp in hand, I will be able to begin scheduling and recruiting for my study this week. I'll begin with vision testing in one of the communities near our lab over the next 3-4 weeks, an later will likely extend the study to an additional community. This will allow us to look at the potential impact of malnutrition on vision in children, and may suggest the need for further nutritional interventions and vision screening in the community.
With these projects, things are actually fairly busy in the lab right now, even as I prepare to head out of town for 10 days while our lab closes for one of Brazil's largest holidays, Carnaval. I'll continue work in the lab this week before departing for Iguassu Falls in Southern Brazil Friday, followed by stops in Buenos Aires (Argentina), possibly Colonia (Uruguay), and finally Florianópolis (Southern Brazil). Then I'll be back in Fortaleza to complete my vision study, and process many samples in the lab before my departure date in mid-May.
