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Published December 3, 2025 | Version v1
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Contributions of African biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics to the One Health nexus

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Washington State University, Global Health
  • 2. F&S Scientific
  • 3. African Genome Center, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
  • 4. Hawassa University
  • 5. Genomics Platform, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
  • 6. University of South Africa
  • 7. ROR icon University of Konstanz
  • 8. ROR icon Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre
  • 9. Ain Shams University Faculty of Agriculture
  • 10. ROR icon Ghent University
  • 11. South-South Zonal Centre of Excellence, University of Port Harcourt
  • 12. A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI)
  • 13. Biotechnology School, Nile University
  • 14. National Biotechnology Research & Development Agency (NBRDA)
  • 15. Inqaba Biotec West Africa
  • 16. ROR icon Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
  • 17. ROR icon National Biotechnology Development Agency
  • 18. Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Computing, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
  • 19. ROR icon Tunis El Manar University
  • 20. Inqaba Biotec East Africa Ltd.
  • 21. The American University in Cairo
  • 22. Laboratory of Botany and Plant Ecology (LBEV), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé
  • 23. Bio and Emerging Technology Istitute
  • 24. Applied genetics in agriculture, ecology and public health laboratory, University of Tlemcen
  • 25. College of Agriculture, Hawassa Universty
  • 26. North-West University
  • 27. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University
  • 28. Biosciences CoreLab, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
  • 29. National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB)
  • 30. South African Medical Research Council
  • 31. Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II (IAV)
  • 32. Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University
  • 33. African Genome Center (AGC), University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
  • 34. MyAfroDNA
  • 35. BioSciences CoreLab, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
  • 36. Genethical
  • 37. University of Tunis El Manar
  • 38. Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin)
  • 39. University of Port Harcourt (UniPort)
  • 40. Shomoro technologies
  • 41. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
  • 42. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
  • 43. Institute for Biomedical Technologies (CNR-ITB)
  • 44. ROR icon Mount Kenya University
  • 45. ROR icon Institut Pasteur de Tunis
  • 46. National Institute of Hygiene (INH)
  • 47. Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC)
  • 48. Applied hydrology and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of sciences and Technology, University of Ain Temouchent
  • 49. 2- faculté des sciences et technologie, Université Aïn Temouchent
  • 50. KEMRI-Wellcome Trust
  • 51. Change Biotec Limited
  • 52. ROR icon International Livestock Research Institute
  • 53. ROR icon Kenyatta University
  • 54. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science
  • 55. ROR icon Pwani University
  • 56. Separations
  • 57. Laboratory of Biomedical Sciences, Food and Environmental Health (LaSBASE), University of Lome
  • 58. Science Collections, Foundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
  • 59. DIPLOMICS
  • 60. ROR icon Claretian University of Nigeria
  • 61. ROR icon University of Kinshasa
  • 62. Laboratory of Virology and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Hygiene (INH)
  • 63. Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA)
  • 64. ROR icon South African National Biodiversity Institute
  • 65. The Africa Genomics Center and Consultancy
  • 66. College of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (CCSE), Chemical and Biochemical Sciences (CBS), Univeristy Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
  • 67. American University in Cairo
  • 68. ROR icon Bishop Stuart University
  • 69. University of Mauritius
  • 70. Zoological Research, Foundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
  • 71. ROR icon University of Pretoria
  • 72. ROR icon Addis Ababa University
  • 73. Elizade University
  • 74. Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of Calabar
  • 75. Laboratory of Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics and Reproductive Biology (LR03SP02), Farhat Hached University Hospital, University of Sousse
  • 76. Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand
  • 77. ROR icon International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
  • 78. Centre for Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
  • 79. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
  • 80. MGI-Tech
  • 81. Cengen (Pty) Ltd
  • 82. "Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences"
  • 83. College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University
  • 84. ROR icon Delta State University
  • 85. ROR icon University of Calabar
  • 86. ROR icon CenGen (Pty) Ltd
  • 87. Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir
  • 88. Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, University of Sousse
  • 89. ROR icon Rothamsted Research
  • 90. Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat (UM5R)
  • 91. African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
  • 92. African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP)
  • 93. National Defence University-Kenya

Description

Africa’s biodiversity sustains ecosystems, supporting humans, animals and the environment. It is, however, increasingly facing pressure, justifying the need for an integrated One Health approach that addresses human, animal and environmental health holistically.  Additionally, the role of genomics and bioinformatics in One Health, especially in the context of food security, agriculture, environment and biodiversity conservation, has been underutilized. The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) has, since 2022, been raising awareness of the importance of genomics and bioinformatics in biodiversity conservation, preservation, and sustainable use and innovations. Through its AfricaBP Open Institute, the project has been promoting knowledge sharing, strengthening data sovereignty and promoting scientific entrepreneurship. In 2025 the AfricaBP Open Institute held 45 workshops across 12 African countries, training 545 African researchers in various skills, including genome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, molecular biology, sample collection, biobanking and ethical, legal and social aspects in the use of genetic resources, and attracted 4980 participants across 75 countries. Here, we provide a status update on One Health approaches in Africa, scanning various implementation models adopted at national, regional, and continental levels. We also underscore the importance of implementing African One Health Strategies using biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics as tools. Finally, we propose a set of recommendations such as establishing more national local One Health strategic plans and networks funded and governed through national and local funding mechanisms to focus on achieving national and regional priorities, establishing an integrated Pan-African One Health Framework for Biodiversity Genomics and Bioinformatics to drive sustainable conservation conservation and food security, and better connect socio-economics and policy issues, and informing One Health policies through quantitative and qualitative sequence data and information.

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Contributions of African biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics to the One Health nexus - Kuja, et al. 2025.pdf

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