A5057432501- Reproductive tract infections research
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Gut microbiota and health
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Reproductive Health and Contraception
- HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- HIV-related health complications and treatments
- Anorectal Disease Treatments and Outcomes
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- Communication in Education and Healthcare
- Innovative Teaching Methods
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Online and Blended Learning
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
University of Cape Town
2012-2025
Women's Health Research Institute
2024
University of British Columbia
2024
Infectious Disease Research Institute
2021-2024
Center for Infectious Disease Research
2023
Seattle University
2020-2023
Seattle Children's Hospital
2020-2022
University of Washington
2020-2022
Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa
2019
Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa
2019
Young African females are at an increased risk of HIV acquisition, and genital inflammation or the vaginal microbiome may contribute to this risk. We studied these factors in 168 HIV-negative South adolescent aged 16 22 years. Unsupervised clustering 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed three clusters (subtypes), one which was strongly associated with inflammation. In a multivariate model, compositional subtype hormonal contraception were significantly identified 40 taxa inflammation, including...
Abstract Background Women with a cervicovaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus spp. are at reduced risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections including HIV, but the biological mechanisms involved remain poorly defined. Here, we performed metaproteomics on vaginal swab samples from young South African women ( n = 113) and transcriptomics analysis epithelial cell cultures to examine ability lactic acid, metabolite produced lactobacilli, modulate genital barrier function. Results...
The objectives of the study were to investigate prevalence cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes inform HPV vaccination strategy in South Africa and factors associated with prevalence. Sexually active, HIV-negative women, aged 16–22 years recruited from Soweto (n = 143) Cape Town 148) tested for other genital infections. Overall was 66.7% (194/291) young women. women more likely have multiple infections than (48.0%, 71/148 versus 35.0%, 50/143 respectively, p 0.033) probable HR-HPV...
Objectives Vaginal dysbiosis and STIs are important drivers of the HIV epidemic reproductive complications. These conditions remain prevalent, partly because most cases asymptomatic. We have shown that inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β interferon-γ-induced protein (IP)-10 biomarkers for detecting asymptomatic vaginal (bacterial vaginosis (BV) or intermediate microbiota). This study aimed to validate performance these in African women recruited regardless symptoms. Methods...
Abstract Female genital tract (FGT) inflammation increases HIV infection susceptibility. Non-optimal cervicovaginal microbiota, characterized by depletion of Lactobacillus species and increased bacterial diversity, is associated with FGT cytokine production. may protect against partly reducing inflammation. We isolated 80 lactobacilli from South African women non-optimal (Nugent 4–10; n = 18) optimal microbiota 0–3; 14). Cytokine production vaginal epithelial cells in response to the...
Adolescents in Africa are at high risk for HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Since behavior burden of STIs/BV may influence risk, behavioral factors prevalence were compared HIV-seronegative adolescent females (n = 298; 16–22 years) from two South African communities (Soweto Cape Town). STIs ( Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, Treponema...
Abstract Bacterial vaginosis (BV) causes genital inflammation and increased HIV acquisition risk. The standard-of-care for BV, antibiotic therapy, is associated with high recurrence rates. Probiotics may improve treatment outcomes, although substantial heterogeneity in efficacy has been observed during clinical trials. To evaluate the potential to existing probiotics, we compared inflammatory antimicrobial (adhesion, H 2 O , D-lactate L-lactate production) characteristics of 23 vaginal...
Antibiotics continue to be the standard-of-care for bacterial vaginosis (BV), although recurrence rates are high. Vaginal probiotics may improve durability of BV treatment, few vaginal health contain Lactobacillus spp. that commonly colonize lower female genital tract. Characteristics strains from South African women were evaluated their probiotic potential in vitro compared commercial products, including growth at varying pHs, ability pH, produce D-/L-lactate and H2O2, influence...
The genital tract of African women has been shown to differ from what is currently accepted as 'normal', defined by a pH≤4.5 and lactobacilli-dominated microbiota. Adolescent girls young (AGYW) sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk for HIV, we hypothesized that specific biological factors likely be influential. This study aimed compare characteristics vaginal health in HIV-negative AGYW (16-22-years-old), two South communities, international norms. We measured plasma hormones, pH, presence BV...
Abstract Effective contraceptives are a global health imperative for reproductive-aged women. However, there remains lack of rigorous data regarding the effects contraceptive options on vaginal bacteria and inflammation. Among 218 women enrolled into substudy ECHO Trial (NCT02550067), we evaluate effect injectable intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), levonorgestrel implant (LNG), copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) environment after one six consecutive months use, using...
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection globally, significantly affecting adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa. This study investigated CT prevalence genotypic diversity among 298 AGYW from Cape Town Johannesburg, revealing an overall of 29.5%. Prevalence was higher (41.6%) compared to Johannesburg (17.4%; p<0.0001). Genetic analysis identified 34 sequence types, including 15 novel variants. Longitudinal data highlighted...
Abstract Background Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections, a leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, increased HIV susceptibility. CT-induced genital inflammation disrupts mucosal barriers activates target cells, compounding reproductive immunological risks. We investigated the impact CT infection AGYW from two South African regions, focusing on immune activation. Methods...
Female genital tract (FGT) diseases such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexually transmitted infections are prevalent in South Africa, with young women being at an increased risk. Since imbalances the FGT microbiome associated diseases, it is vital to investigate factors that influence health. The mycobiome plays important role regulating mucosal health, especially when component disturbed. However, we have a limited understanding of since many studies focused on communities neglected...
Adolescent girls and young women represent a key risk group for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The vaginal microbiota is thought to play an important role in susceptibility STIs such as Chlamydia trachomatis. We compared the of lateral wall endocervix, assessed associations with C. trachomatis infection South African adolescents. endocervical were characterized by amplifying sequencing V4 region 16S rRNA gene diagnosed using molecular methods. Of 72 included, 30 had asymptomatic...
Female genital tract (FGT) inflammation is an important risk factor for HIV acquisition. The FGT microbiome closely associated with inflammatory profile; however, the relative importance of microbial activities has not been established. Since proteins are key elements representing actual functions, this study utilized metaproteomics to evaluate relationship between function and in 113 young adolescent South African women at high infection. Women were grouped as having low, medium, or by...
Background: Persons with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) have persistent immune activation associated increased risk for non-AIDS related diseases. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), endemic in Africa, may contribute to this dysregulation. We evaluated the impact of and TB co-infection plasma pro- anti-inflammatory cytokines among Kenyan adults. Methods: compared data from 221 PWH long-term ART 177 HIV-negative adults examining biomarkers pro-[sCD14, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6,...
Background and Methods: Schistosomiasis is debilitating reported to impair immune responsiveness of infected hosts. In Cameroon, mass drug administration (MDA) used in schoolchildren reduce transmission S. haematobium mansoni. The effects MDA the impact schistosomiasis on titers antibodies vaccinated children have been poorly studied. We therefore assessed prevalence schoolchildren, eight months after MDA, two locations: Barombi Koto (BK), endemic for (N =169) Yoro (Y), mansoni = 356). Age,...
Abstract In a phase-IIa trial, we investigated the influence of 90 days continuous-delivery tenofovir (TFV) intravaginal rings (IVRs) with/without levonorgestrel (LNG) on genital microbiota Kenyan women. Eligible women (n = 27; 18–34 years; negative for HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and Amsel-bacterial vaginosis) were randomized 2:2:1 to use IVRs containing TFV, TFV/LNG, or placebo. Using vaginal wall IVR swabs at insertion removal, microbial composition was determined using 16S rRNA...
Cervicovaginal CD4+ T cells are preferential targets for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and have consequently been used as a proxy measure HIV susceptibility. The ECHO randomized trial offered unique opportunity to consider the association between contraceptives Th17-like within designed evaluate risk. In mucosal substudy of trial, we compared impact initiating intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), copper-IUD, levonorgestrel (LNG) implant on cervical...
Background Cervicovaginal inflammation, bacterial microbiota and hormonal contraceptives all influence sexual reproductive health. To date, the effects of intramuscular depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) versus injectable norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) on vaginal or cytokines have not been compared back-to-back, although in-vitro data suggest that DMPA-IM NET-EN different pharmacokinetic biologic activities. This study aimed at comparing initiation cervicovaginal in women high...
The ECHO trial randomized women to intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), levonorgestrel implant (LNG-implant), or copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD). In a substudy of the trial, we tested hypothesis that contraceptives influence genital inflammation by comparing cervicovaginal cytokine changes following contraception initiation. addition, compared profiles in who acquired HIV (cases) versus those remaining negative (controls).Women (n = 251) from South Africa and Kenya...
At the same time that COVID-19 cases in United States first began to increase, fellows a mentored teaching apprenticeship for postdoctoral scientists teach undergraduate seminars. The suddenly needed support students emotionally and switch online instruction.
Measurement of cytokines in the lower female genital tract offer insight into risk for HIV infection and reproductive complications. However, few studies have systematically compared mucosal collection methods or whether order matters. We longitudinal cytokine profiles matched samples collected from women living with using menstrual cup (MC), endocervical swabs (ECS) swab-enriched cervicovaginal lavage (eCVL). Samples were at enrollment [MC:ECS:eCVL], 3-months (ECS:eCVL:MC) 6-months...