Bridging eco-exposome and one health approaches to address emerging infectious diseases through the EMERG project

Introduction Emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are being increasingly reported and represent a significant burden on public health and global economies, as exemplified by COVID-19 pandemic. Context Given the current EID importance at the territory level in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (NA, a French southwestern region), we designed a project to address this risk. The EMERG project and consortium (for “Microbial exposome and EID risks: the benefits of a One Health management of zoonotic influenza-related issues and beyond”) aim at deciphering and anticipating EID risks in NA. EMERG project design EMERG is a transdisciplinary network for evaluating and predicting EID risk and zoonotic potential. EMERG focuses on highly pathogenic avian influenza, zoonotic arboviral infections due to West Nile and Usutu viruses, and the burden of microbial multidrug resistance in NA. Investigative approaches were developed considering the exposome extended to animals, namely the eco-exposome and specifically the microbial eco-exposome. It brings together specialists in human, animal and environmental health. EMERG aim is to provide up-to-date and region-specific data on major EID risks and their determinants in NA, thereby facilitating local management and anticipation of threatening events, epizootics, and epidemics. Implications, limitations, and future directions In addition to addressing the multiscale nature of complex ecosystems driving EIDs, this transdisciplinary project supports informed decision-making for an adapted regional (NA) policy and can be integrated into larger (national, international) public health initiatives. While EMERG has several limitations, it represents a practical implementation of the One Health approach and eco-exposome concept, which is essential for preventing future EID risks. Here, we focused on project design and organization, and presented examples to demonstrate EMERG feasibility throughout a case study.