Vinzeigh Leukes
A5018257487- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Immune cells in cancer
- Inflammation biomarkers and pathways
- Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Biomedical and Engineering Education
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Synthesis and Catalytic Reactions
- Health Policy Implementation Science
- Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation
- Advanced Glycation End Products research
- Caveolin-1 and cellular processes
- Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
- Health Sciences Research and Education
- Cancer Mechanisms and Therapy
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Biomedical Text Mining and Ontologies
South African Medical Research Council
2018-2024
Stellenbosch University
2018-2024
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
2023-2024
Background Inequality is rife throughout South Africa. The first wave of COVID-19 may have affected people in lower socioeconomic groups worse than the affluent. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and specificity anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests Africa not known. Methods We tested 405 volunteers representing all strata from workforce a popular shopping tourist complex central Cape Town with Abbott IgG assay. assessed association between positivity symptom status, medical history, sociodemographic...
Background Multiple host blood transcriptional signatures have been developed as non-sputum triage tests for tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of 20 transcriptomic TB differentiating between symptomatic patients who versus other respiratory diseases (ORD). Methods As part a nested case–control study, individuals presenting with symptoms at primary healthcare clinics in Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, Uganda, South Africa and The Gambia were enrolled. was diagnosed...
Background: Timely and appropriate diagnosis treatment are key to end tuberculosis (TB). Incorporating user preferences when implementing decentralized strategies for may facilitate scale-up impact. This qualitative study embedded within a cluster randomized controlled trial explored the values of multiple stakeholders regarding TB diagnostic strategy using Truenat platform, MTB Plus RIF Dx Assays in Mozambique Tanzania. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with people...
Abstract Background The World Health Organization–approved Xpert MTB/XDR test detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis and resistance to isoniazid, fluoroquinolones, ethionamide, injectable drugs directly in specimens. This pragmatic, laboratory-based study assessed the diagnostic accuracy feasibility of a reflex testing approach, where was performed on residual specimens previously processed for MTB/RIF Ultra. Methods Routine respiratory specimens, Ultra, were stored sample reagent buffer at...
Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Current WHO-recommended strategies for diagnosing TB hospitalized PLHIV rely on symptom screening disease severity to assess eligibility urine lipoarabinomannan lateral flow (LF-LAM) molecular testing. Despite these recommendations, autopsy studies show a large burden undiagnosed admitted PLHIV. The EXULTANT trial aims the impact expanded strategy using three specimens (sputum, stool,...
Abstract Background: South Africa has a high degree of inequality between population groups. The first wave COVID-19 may have affected people in lower socioeconomic groups worse than the affluent. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and specificity anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests is not known. Methods: We tested 405 volunteers representing all strata from workforce popular shopping tourist complex central Cape Town with Abbott IgG assay. assessed association positivity symptom status, medical history,...
Conventional anti-tuberculosis (TB) therapies comprise lengthy antibiotic treatment regimens, exacerbated by multi-drug resistant and extensively drug mycobacterial strains. We assessed the ability of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), as repurposed compound serving host-directed therapy (HDT), to counteract suppressive effects myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) obtained from active TB cases (untreated or during week one treatment) on T-cell responsiveness. show for first time that MDSCs...
Successful TB treatment is hampered by increasing resistance to the two most effective first-line anti-TB drugs, namely isoniazid and rifampicin, thus innovative therapies focused on host processes, termed host-directed (HDTs), are promising novel approaches for efficacy without inducing drug resistance. We assessed ability of Sildenafil, a type-5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, as repurposed compound, serve HDT target, counteracting suppressive effects myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC)...
Abstract Background In 2020, the WHO-approved Molbio Truenat platform and MTB assays to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex ( ) resistance rifampicin directly on sputum specimens. This primary health care center-based trial in Mozambique Tanzania investigates effect of platform/MTB (intervention arm) combined with rapid communication results compared standard TB diagnosis treatment initiation for microbiologically confirmed at 7 days from enrolment. Methods The Tuberculosis Close Gap,...
Background: Multiple host blood transcriptional signatures have been developed that show potential for further development as non-sputum triage tests tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 20 candidate transcriptomic TB and identify which ones most accurately differentiate between symptomatic patients with those other respiratory diseases (ORD).Methods: Study participants presenting care symptoms associated were recruited from primary health clinics in Ethiopia,...
Purpose: The diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children is often delayed due to diagnostic difficulties. New tools are urgently needed improve the disease this vulnerable group. present study aimed validate accuracy recently identified host cerebrospinal (CSF) biomarkers as candidates for TBM children.Materials and methods: We collected CSF samples from 87 aged 3 months 13 years, that were consecutively admitted at a tertiary hospital Cape Town, South Africa, on suspicion having...
Abstract Background In 2020, the WHO-approved Molbio Truenat platform and MTB assays to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) resistance rifampicin directly on sputum specimens. This primary health care center-based trial in Mozambique Tanzania investigates effect of platform/MTB (intervention arm) combined with rapid communication results compared standard TB diagnosis treatment initiation for microbiologically confirmed at 7 days from enrolment. Methods The Tuberculosis Close...
<h3>Background</h3> Diagnostic testing for TB needs to optimize access, turnaround time and thus treatment initiation cost. Point of care (POC) optimizes the former, but additional costs beyond test cost alone might be drivers overall in a POC strategy, especially low-and-middle-income settings. <h3>Methods</h3> We estimated health system per participant tested on-site via novel Molbio Truenat MTB/RIF platform (Molbio Diagnostics, Verna, Goa, India) versus hub-and-spoke standard care,...