A5046938517- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Immune responses and vaccinations
- Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Immune cells in cancer
- Blood groups and transfusion
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Biochemical and Molecular Research
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
- Hematological disorders and diagnostics
- Global Maternal and Child Health
MRC Unit the Gambia
2015-2024
University of Education, Winneba
2020
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
2016
Harvard Global Health Institute
2016
Public Health Department
2016
The University of Melbourne
2016
Medical Research Council
2003-2015
National Tuberculosis Institute
2006
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2003
Rationale: Contacts of patients with tuberculosis (TB) constitute an important target population for preventive measures because they are at high risk infection Mycobacterium and progression to disease.Objectives: We investigated biosignatures predictive ability incident TB.Methods: In a case–control study nested within the Grand Challenges 6-74 longitudinal HIV-negative African cohort exposed household contacts, we employed RNA sequencing, PCR, pair ratio algorithm in training/test set...
Microneedle patches (MNPs) have been ranked as the highest global priority innovation for overcoming immunisation barriers in low-income and middle-income countries. This trial aimed to provide first data on tolerability, safety, immunogenicity of a measles rubella vaccine (MRV)-MNP children.
Background Host-related and environment-related factors have been shown to play a role in the development of tuberculosis (TB), but few studies were carried out identify their respective roles resource-poor countries.
Background Very little longitudinal information is available regarding the performance of T cell-based tests for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. To address this deficiency, we conducted a assessment enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot test (ELISPOT) in comparison to standard tuberculin skin (TST). Methods and Findings In (TB) contacts repeated ELISPOT 3 mo (n = 341) 18 210) after recruitment TSTs at 130). We evaluated factors association with conversion reversion investigated suspected...
New biomarkers of tuberculosis (TB) risk and disease are critical for the urgently needed control ongoing TB pandemic. In a prospective multisite study across Subsaharan Africa, we analyzed metabolic profiles in serum plasma from HIV-negative, TB-exposed individuals who either progressed to 3-24 months post-exposure (progressors) or remained healthy (controls). We generated trans-African biosignature TB, which identifies future progressors both on blinded test samples external data sets...
Novel oral poliovirus vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) has been engineered to improve the genetic stability of Sabin (OPV) and reduce emergence circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses. This trial aimed provide key safety immunogenicity data required for nOPV2 licensure WHO prequalification.
The purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection lacks specificity. We assessed 2 more specific M. antigens (ESAT-6 and CFP-10) by enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) compared with PPD ELISPOT in Gambia. Of 735 household contacts of 130 sputum smear-positive cases, 476 (65%) tested positive ELISPOT, 300 (41%) test, 218 (30%) ESAT-6/CFP-10 ELISPOT. Only 15 (2%) had results negative With increasing exposure, the percentage subjects who were...
Few studies have investigated the risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) infection in highly endemic countries. We conducted a household study The Gambia, which tuberculin skin test (TST) was performed members of households 315 smear-positive pulmonary TB cases and 305 community control subjects. being TST positive (10 mm or more) higher contacts than It increased with age, male sex, duration stay but not associated presence bacille de Calmette-Guérin scar. Within cases, positivity males social...
Background Studies of Tuberculosis (TB) case contacts are increasingly being utilised for understanding the relationship between M. tuberculosis and human host assessing new interventions diagnostic tests. We aimed to identify incidence rate TB cases among relate this their initial Mantoux ELISPOT test results. Methods Findings After tests exclusion co-prevalent cases, we followed 2348 household sputum smear positive cases. visited them at 3 months, 6 12 18 months 24 investigated those with...
New tools are required to improve tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment, including enhanced ability compare new treatment strategies. The ELISPOT assay uses Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens produce a precise quantitative readout of the immune response pathogen. We hypothesized that TB patients in Gambia would have reduced counts after successful treatment.We recruited Gambian adults with sputum smear culture positive for HIV test, followed them up one year later repeat...
Few studies on bacteraemia in Africa have been published. We aimed to prospectively identify the causative organisms of The Gambia and their relation clinical diagnoses, outcome antimicrobial susceptibility. Between November 2003 February 2005 we studied those admitted Medical Research Council hospital who were suspected having bacteraemia. documented features, outcome, pathogens identified susceptibility patterns, searched for factors associated with 871 patients had a blood culture taken....
The tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Africa is on the rise, even low-HIV prevalence settings. Few studies have attempted to identify possible reasons for this. We aimed risk factors pulmonary those attending a general outpatients clinic Gambia, sub-Saharan African country with relatively low HIV community and TB patients. conducted case control study at Medical Research Council Outpatients' Gambia. Pulmonary cases were least 15 years old, controls age sex matched attendees. Participants...
OBJECTIVE. To compare the enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay with tuberculin skin test (TST) in children for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection Gambia. METHODS. We divided child contacts sputum smear-positive cases into 3 age categories (<5, 5–9, and 10–14 years) assessed agreement between 2 tests plus their relationship to prior Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination. categorized a child's level M exposure according where he/she slept relative case: same room,...
Background. Anemia is common in tuberculosis, and multiple etiologies necessitate targeted interventions. The proportion of iron-responsive anemia due to iron deficiency compared with iron-unresponsive impaired absorption/redistribution from tuberculosis-associated immune activation or inflammation unknown. This impedes selection safe effective treatment appropriate intervention timing. Methods. Baseline hemoglobin, ferritin, hepcidin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), were measured 45...
Objective. Tuberculosis (TB) infection is highly prevalent in developing countries. As infected children represent a large proportion of the pool from which TB cases will arise, knowledge factors that influence are importance to evaluate transmission community and adapt control activities. There limited data on risk child populations Methods. We performed household contact study The Gambia (West Africa), who were living with individuals had proven smear-positive pulmonary investigated. A...
IFN-γ Release Assays (IGRAs) have been licensed for the diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Their performance may depend on assay format and vary across populations settings. We compared diagnostic an in-house T -cell commercial whole blood-based IGRAs LTBI TB disease in The Gambia. Newly diagnosed sputum smear positive cases their household contacts were recruited. Cases bled IGRA had a Mantoux skin test. assessed agreement discordance between tests categorized...
BackgroundMycobacterium africanum a member of the M. tuberculosis complex that is infrequently found outside western Africa, cause up to half cases there
BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) remains a global health threat with 9 million new cases and 1.4 deaths per year. In order to develop protective vaccine, we need define the antigens expressed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which are relevant immunity in high-endemic areas. MethodsWe analysed responses 23 Mtb total of 1247 subjects different HIV TB status across 5 geographically diverse sites Africa (South Africa, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Malawi Uganda). We used 7-day whole blood assay followed...
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a global health concern, especially in resource-poor countries such as The Gambia. Defining protective immunity to TB challenging: its pathogenesis complex and involves several cellular components of the immune system. Recent works vaccine development suggest important roles innate natural protection TB, including killer (NK) cells. NK cells mediate cytotoxicity cytokine signalling response Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). can display specific memory-type markers...
We investigated host-derived biomarkers that were previously identified in QuantiFERON supernatants, a large pan-African study. recruited individuals presenting with symptoms of pulmonary TB at seven peripheral healthcare facilities six African countries, prior to assessment for disease. then evaluated the concentrations 12 stored supernatants using Luminex platform. Based on laboratory, clinical and radiological findings pre-established algorithm, participants classified as disease or other...
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), remains a pressing global health challenge, with West African region, including The Gambia, experiencing substantial burden. This study explores genetic diversity of MTBC strains circulating in Gambia for nearly two decades (2002-2021) to enhance understanding drug resistance dynamics and inform targeted diagnostic treatment strategies. Using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 1,803 TB isolates, we identified...