A5084490769- Malaria Research and Control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Energy Harvesting in Wireless Networks
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Complement system in diseases
- Immune responses and vaccinations
James Cook University
2024
National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council
2020-2024
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine
2024
Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust
2024
Tulane University
2024
University of Zambia
2022
Purdue University West Lafayette
2021
Ministry of Health
2014-2021
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
2021
The first laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, in Zambia were detected March 2020 (1). Beginning July, number confirmed began to increase rapidly, peaking during July-August, and then declining September October (Figure). After 3 months relatively low case counts, COVID-19 rapidly rising throughout country mid-December. On December 18, 2020, South Africa published genome a SARS-CoV-2 variant strain with several mutations that...
Abstract Genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria can provide policy-relevant information about antimalarial drug resistance, diagnostic test failure, and the evolution vaccine targets. Yet large low complexity genome P. complicates development genomic methods, while resource constraints in endemic regions limit their deployment. Here, we demonstrate an approach for targeted nanopore sequencing from dried blood spots (DBS) that enables cost-effective low-resource settings. We...
Abstract Background Genomic surveillance is crucial for monitoring malaria transmission and understanding parasite adaptation to interventions. Zambia lacks prior nationwide efforts in genomic among African countries. Methods We conducted of Plasmodium falciparum parasites from the 2018 Malaria Indicator Survey Zambia, a nationally representative household survey children under five years age. whole-genome sequenced analyzed 241 P. genomes regions with varying levels across estimated genetic...
Abstract Background Attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) stations are a novel tool with potential to complement current approaches malaria vector control. To assess the public health value of ATSB station deployment in areas high coverage standard control, two-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) Sarabi ATSB® (Westham Ltd., Hod-Hasharon, Israel) was conducted Western Province, Zambia, high-burden location were Anopheles funestus is dominant vector. The included 70 clusters and...
BackgroundA highly effective vaccine for malaria remains an elusive target, at least in part due to the under-appreciated natural parasite variation. This study aimed investigate genetic and structural variation, immune selection of leading candidates across Plasmodium falciparum's life cycle.MethodsWe analysed 325 P. falciparum whole genome sequences from Zambia, addition 791 genomes five other African countries available MalariaGEN Pf3k Database. Ten antigens spanning three life-history...
Antimalarials are central to Zambia′s strategies for malaria control and elimination. Antimalarial drug resistance poses a significant threat the effectiveness of artemisinin-based combination therapies preventive such as sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine chemoprevention in pregnant women. In this genomic surveillance study, dried blood spots epidemiological data were collected from confirmed Plasmodium falciparum cases at 61 health facilities across all 10 Zambian provinces March July 2023. A total...
Monitoring mosquito population dynamics is essential to guide selection and evaluation of malaria vector control interventions but typically implemented by mobile, centrally-managed teams who can only visit a limited number locations frequently enough capture longitudinal trends. Community-based (CB) trapping schemes for parallel, continuous monitoring multiple are therefore required that practical, affordable, effective, reliable. A CB surveillance scheme, with monthly sampling reporting...
Zambia continues to make strides in reducing malaria burden through the use of proven interventions and has recently pledged eliminate by 2021. Case management services have been scaled up at community level with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) providing antigen-based detection falciparum only. Key national elimination goals is ability identify, treat all Plasmodium species. This study sought determine distribution non-falciparum assess performance for Western Southern Provinces Zambia, two...
Background. Sparse data documenting the impact of COVID-19 in Africa has fostered belief that skipped Africa. We previously published results from a systematic postmortem surveillance at busy inner-city morgue Lusaka, Zambia. Between June-October 2021, we detected 15-19% all deaths and concentrated community settings where testing for was absent. Yet these conclusions rested on small cohort 70 COVID-19+ individuals. Subsequently, conducted longer far larger follow-on survey using same...
Long-lasting, insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) are the most widely accepted applied malaria vector control methods. However, evidence that incremental impact is achieved when they combined remains limited inconsistent. Fourteen population clusters of approximately 1000 residents each in Zambia's Luangwa Nyimba districts, which had high pre-existing usage rates (81.7 %) pyrethroid-impregnated LLINs were quasi-randomly assigned to receive IRS with either two...
Objectives To determine the prevalence of COVID-19 postmortem setting in Lusaka, Zambia. Design A systematic, study. Setting busy, inner-city morgue Lusaka. Participants We sampled a random subset all decedents who transited University Teaching Hospital morgue. posterior nasopharynx using quantitative PCR. Prevalence was weighted to account for age-specific enrolment strategies. Interventions Not applicable—this an observational Primary outcomes detections by Results were stratified...
Enteric infections due to viral pathogens are a major public health concern. Detecting the risk areas requires strong surveillance system for pathogenic viruses in sources such as wastewater. Towards building an environmental Zambia, we aimed identify group A rotavirus (RVA) and human adenovirus (HAdV) Convenient sampling was conducted at four study sites every Tuesday five consecutive weeks. The research team focused on three different methods of concentration determine suitability terms...
Whereas data on insecticide resistance and its underlying mechanisms exist for parts of Zambia, remain limited in the southern part country. This study investigated status resistance, metabolic mechanisms, parasite infection Anopheles funestus along Lake Kariba Zambia. Indoor-resting mosquitoes were collected from 20 randomly selected houses within clusters where a mass drug administration trial was conducted raised to F1 progeny. Non-blood-fed 2- 5-day-old female An. exposed WHO...
In 2002, Zambia withdrew chloroquine as first-line treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria due to increased failure and worldwide spread of resistance. The artemisinin combination regimen, artemether-lumefantrine, replaced (CQ) first choice treatment. present study determined the prevalence CQ resistance molecular markers in Pfcrt Pfmdr1 genes Eastern at 9 13 years after removal drug pressure.Samples collected from Katete District during therapeutic efficacy assessments conducted 2012...
Abstract Background Zambia continues to advance on the path elimination with significant reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality. Crucial components that have contributed progress thus far are necessary for achieving national goals include properly identifying treating all cases through accurate diagnosis. This study sought compare assess diagnostic performance of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) Light Microscopy (LM) photo-induced electron transfer polymerase chain reaction (PET-PCR) as...
Rigorous evidence of effectiveness is needed to determine where and when apply mass drug administration (MDA) or focal MDA (fMDA) as part a malaria elimination strategy. The Zambia National Malaria Elimination Centre recently completed community-randomized controlled trial in Southern Province evaluate fMDA for transmission reduction. To assess the role on infection incidence, we enrolled longitudinal cohort an 18-month period data collection including monthly parasite detection based...
ABSTRACT Genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria can provide policy-relevant information about antimalarial drug resistance, rapid diagnostic test failure, and the evolution vaccine targets. Yet large low complexity genome P. limits scope genomic surveillance, as whole-genome sequencing approaches are costly targeted challenging to develop. Moreover, majority morbidity mortality caused by occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, where resource constraints make implementing difficult....
Anti-malarial drug resistance continues to be a leading threat ongoing malaria control efforts and calls for continued monitoring of the efficacy these drugs in order inform national anti-malarial policy decision-making. This study assessed therapeutic safety artemether-lumefantrine (AL)(Coartem®) treatment uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum two sentinel high transmission districts Eastern Province Zambia persons aged six months above, excluding women 12 18 years. was an observational...
A mass drug administration trial was carried out in Southern Province, Zambia, between 2014 and 2016, conjunction with a standard of care package that included improved surveillance, increased access to malaria case management, sustained high levels vector control coverage. This preceded by test treatment the same area from 2011 2013. Concordant decreases prevalence Province deaths attributed Zambia over this time suggest these strategies successfully reduced burden. Genetic epidemiological...
Enteric infections are a major public health concern. Detecting risk areas requires strong surveillance system for pathogenic viruses in possible sources such as wastewater. To build an environmental system, we aimed to identify group A rotavirus (RVA) and human adenovirus (HAdV) We also focused on three different methods of viral concentration determine suitability regular system. screened 20 wastewater samples HAdV RVA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) conventional...
<title>Abstract</title> The emergence of antimalarial drug resistance is a major threat to malaria control and elimination. Using whole genome sequencing 282 <italic>P. falciparum</italic> samples collected during the 2018 Zambia National Malaria Indicator Survey, we determined prevalence spatial distribution known candidate mutations. High levels genotypic were found across pyrimethamine, with over 94% (n = 266) having <italic>Pfdhfr</italic> triple mutant (N51<bold>I</bold>,...
Antimalarial resistance is an inevitable feature of control efforts and a key threat to achieving malaria elimination. Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest several species causing human malaria, has developed essentially all antimalarials. This study sought investigate prevalence molecular markers associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in Southern Western provinces Zambia. SP used primarily for intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy, while AL...
Anti-malarial resistance is, and continues to be a significant challenge in the fight against malaria threat achieving elimination. In Zambia, chloroquine (CQ), safe, affordable well-tolerated drug, was removed from use 2003 due high levels of evidenced with treatment failure. This study sought investigate prevalence markers Southern Western Provinces Zambia 14 years after withdrawal CQ.Data cross-sectional, all-age household survey, conducted during peak transmission season (April-May 2017)...
Efforts to eliminate malaria transmission need evidence-based strategies. However, accurately assessing end-game elimination strategies is challenging due the low level of and rarity infections. We hypothesised that presumptively treating individuals during reactive case detection (RCD) would reduce serology more sensitively detect this change over standard approaches. conducted a cluster randomised control trial (NCT02654912) presumptive focal drug administration (RFDA-intervention)...
Abstract Background Zambia has set itself the ambitious target of eliminating malaria by 2021. To continue tracking transmission to zero, new interventions, tools and approaches are required. Methods Urban reactive case detection (RCD) was performed in Lusaka city from 2011 2015 better understand location drivers transmission. Briefly, index cases were followed their home all consenting individuals living house nine proximal houses tested with a rapid diagnostic test treated if positive. A...